Dolphins No Match For Venice

Palisades

The difference between the two programs was evident long before a ball was hiked last Friday night. Venice ran a squad of 53 players onto the Stadium by the Sea turf for warmups. Palisades, meanwhile, suited up only 27’barely half as much as its opponent. Such a discrepancy in manpower does not always equate to a lopsided score, but few who watched the Dolphins get routed 48-6 on their home field would dispute that the gap between the two teams was every bit as wide as the margin of victory “We expected this to be a tough game and it was,” Pali head coach Leo Castro told his team afterwards. “The key is not to let this affect how we play the next game.” Venice (5-1 overall, 1-0 in league) continued its domination of Palisades, a trend that began in 2001’the year after Ron Price resigned as head coach. In five games between the schools since then, the Dolphins have not led once and have been outscored 211 to 27. Castro and his players knew the key to turning the tables on Venice was slowing down the Gondos’ leading rusher, Ken Ashley, who entered the game having run for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. Yet Ashley needed just eight carries to gain 143 yards and score two touchdowns on Friday night, thanks in part to the Dolphins’ inability to tackle. “At times we had guys in position to make plays, we just couldn’t wrap him up,” Castro said. “Ashley’s a good back. There’s a reason he’s being heavily recruited.” Palisades (3-3, 0-1) played Venice tough for the first quarter, trailing only 8-3. Then the roof fell in on the Dolphins. On the first play of the second quarter, Ashley took a delayed hand-off 40 yards for a touchdown. That was followed by three Palisades turnovers in less than four minutes’all of which led to Gondo touchdowns. First, defensive back Andre Jones returned an interception 25 yards for a score. Then, safety Shamar Thornton returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown. Finally, Pali quarterback Raymond Elie tried to pitch to Marquise Coleman on an option play at the Dolphins’ five-yard line, but the play was botched and cornerback Oscar Duncan scooped up the loose ball at the one and stepped into the end zone to give Venice a commanding 35-3 lead. “They didn’t need our help and we gave them plenty,” Castro said. After a Palisades punt, Ashley ended the Gondos’ next drive with an 18-yard touchdown run to increase the visitors’ lead to 42-3 at halftime. Venice began subbing out most of its starters midway through the third quarter when it was clear the Dolphins were unable to move the ball. Palisades’ only points came courtesy of Esteban Moreno’s reliable foot. The Dolphins’ senior placekicker and punter booted a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter and added a 43-yarder in the third quarter. Elie was sacked four times and completed just five of 19 passes for 65 yards. But he did lead Pali with 50 yards rushing. Next up for the Dolphins is an afternoon game at undefeated University’a team that trounced the Dolphins 52-14 at Stadium by the Sea last season. “We can’t afford to dwell on this loss,” Castro said. “There’s still a lot of football left to be played and we’re still right in the thick of things. If we lose the next one, though, it’s going to be an uphill battle.” Palisades’ frosh/soph also lost, dropping to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in league.