Finals Bound

Pali High Football Team Rallies Past Narbonne 45-36 to Reach First City Championship Game in 35 Years

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Trailing at halftime of Friday night’s City Section Division I semifinal, the Palisades High football team was in danger of succumbing to the pressure of the moment. Instead, it rose to the occasion, outscoring Harbor City Narbonne 28-6 in the third quarter en route to a 45-36 victory at Stadium by the Sea that propelled the Dolphins to their first final since 1987—long before any of the current players were born.   

“We didn’t know what to expect from them and we definitely felt the jitters in the first quarter,” said senior captain Savyour Riley, whose oldest brother Syr, a former All-City lineman at Palisades, sent him inspirational messages. “[Senior receiver/cornerback] Marcus Brown Jr. was out on a trip but we promised him this won’t be the last game. When Matt [Spoonamore] got the fumble on the kickoff that flipped the switch.”

In the first-ever playoff meeting between the schools, Palisades scored first on quarterback Roman La Scala’s one-yard run late in the first quarter.

The 10th-seeded Gauchos answered with a 68-yard drive, capped by Elan Espenesa’s two-yard run on the 12th play, but the extra point was wide.

Palisades marched inside the Narbonne 15 on its next possession, but a 32-yard field goal try was short and Gauchos quarterback Ryan Corley hooked up with Antonio Villegas    on a 65-yard score and the two-point conversion made it 14-7 visitors. Third-seeded Palisades drove inside the red zone on its next two drives but came away with no points and the Gauchos, coming off of wins at  No. 7 Westchester and No. 2 Carson, were poised for another upset.

“At halftime we told each other this is our house so don’t put your head down, there’s a lot of time left and the team that plays the hardest will win,” junior receiver Sean Grier said. “We’re one big family and we locked in on what we needed to do.”

After forcing a three-and-out on Narbonne’s first series of the third quarter the Dolphins caught a break when the punter fumbled the snap  and was tackled at the 10. La Scala threw a strike to receiver Amari Yolas on the next play and Kellan Ford’s point-after kick tied it 14-14.

Spoonamore pounced on a loose ball on the kickoff, giving Palisades the ball back in Gauchos territory. Chris Washington’s four-yard scoring run seven plays later pushed Palisades back in front. Riley knifed through the line to block a punt at the Narbonne 38 and four plays later Yolas caught a 35-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-14. After Corley  threw a 48-yard touchdown pass, Yolas returned the kickoff 85 yards for his third touchdown. Cash Allen intercepted a pass and Spoonamore recovered an onside kick late to seal the victory for Palisades.