Football Unable to Settle Score

Wildcats Pull Away in Second Half to Beat Palisades, 36-19

One of the Palisades High football team’s most humiliating losses last season came at the hands of University, which drubbed the Dolphins 52-14 at Stadium by the Sea. So Pali wanted nothing better than to return the favor on the Wildcats’ home field and put an end to University’s undefeated record. Instead, a game the Dolphins needed to win to stay in the Western League playoff hunt got away from them in the second half as the host Wildcats outscored Palisades 28-13 in the second half to post a 36-19 victory and remain in first place. Despite having been routed by defending league champion Venice the week before, Palisades (3-4, 0-2) arrived at Wildcat Stadium expecting to win its second road game of the season. Instead, the Dolphins remained winless in league and must win two of their final three games to avoid a fifth straight losing season. With Robert Gillett injured on the bench and Marquise Coleman and Ryan Henry unable to run the ball (they combined for just eight yards in eight carries), Pali quarterback Raymond Elie was forced to pass on almost every play. He finished 10 of 36 for 210 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Elie also scored Pali’s final touchdown on a one-yard sneak with 4:26 remaining. University (7-0, 2-0) missed an early chance to score after intercepting a pass by Elie deep in Dolphin territory. The Widcats were stopped on downs, but late in the first quarter Uni defensive back Jason Robinson intercepted Elie at the Dolphins’ 40-yard line and returned it to the 16. Five plays later, Aaron Grims scored from 18 yards out and Douglas Nelson caught Robinson’s two-point conversion pass to give Uni an 8-0 lead. Palisades responded just before halftime when Elie rolled out and found receiver Ryan Henry in the corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown that pulled the Dolphins within two points. But the ensuing two-point conversion pass was batted down before it could reach tight end Deonte Baker and Pali trailed 8-6 at halftime. Daryl Butcher returned the second half kickoff 48 yards to Palisades’ 44-yard line and it took the Wildcats only five plays to increase their lead to 14-6 on Robinson’s five-yard run. After Paliw as stopped on downs, Uni took possession at its iwn 38-yard line and again drove downfield to score, this time on Robinson’s six-yard run. Early in the fourth quarter, Henry caught a second 17-yard touchdown pass from Elie, Esteban Moreno kicked the extra point, and it appeared the Dolphins were back in the game trailing only 20-13. However, Uni seized control for good when it got the ball back. Driving 51 yards in five plays, the Wildcats scored on a one-yard plunge by Anthony Ederson and Butcher ran for the two-point conversion to build Uni’s lead back to 28-13. Palisades responded with its best drive of the game, marching 77 yards in nine plays and scoring on Elie’s keeper that closed the gap to 28-19. Elie was tackled a yard short of the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt. Although the Dolphins recovered an onside kick attempt, it was ruled they recovered before the ball had traveled the necessary 10 yards and the Wildcats were awarded possession at midfield. Uni put the game away five plays later, scoring on a 25-yard pass from Robinson to Butcher. Cedric Hayes ran in the two-point conversion to provide the final margin with 1:54 left in the game. Not only did Palisades lose but its next opponent, Hamilton, beat Westchester and enters Friday night’s game at Stadium by the Sea with confidence. Palisades’ frosh/soph team also lost, 20-6.