Forrest Wins Joe Spector Award

Good things come to those who wait and that was the case for Brandon Forrest, who was presented the Joe Spector Award as Most Valuable Player of the 2020 Palisades High football team.

Forrest, who graduated in the spring after leading  the Dolphins in scoring in their four-game season that was delayed for seven months because of COVID-19, received his trophy following last Thursday’s scrimmage against reigning City Open Division champion Birmingham at Stadium by the Sea. His name will also be engraved on a plaque kept in the coaches office containing the winners of the award each year since it was first presented in 1987 when Spector’s son Todd was the Dolphins’ starting left tackle as a senior.      

The award is given to the varsity player who  exemplifies the values of Pali High football in loyalty, discipline and perseverance. Forrest joins a fraternity that includes brothers Geoff and Mitchell Schwartz (both of whom would go on to be star linemen in the Pac-12 and NFL), Pali High’s all-time single season rushing leader Innocent Okoh (2016) and he succeeds 2019 co-winners Sy Riley and Max Palees.

The honor comes two months after Forrest won the Palisadian-Post Cup Award as the school’s outstanding senior athlete. Forrest received his latest accolade from Spector, the program’s longtime Life Experience Coach and new head coach Chris Hyduke, who replaced Tim Hyde in July.

Forrest made a huge impact both on and off the gridiron last season. The multi-faceted back scored four touchdowns (three rushing and one receiving) in April and was a genuine threat to go the distance every time he touched the ball. After the shortened football season he quickly transitioned to track and emerged as an elite sprinter, leading off the Dolphins’ 4×100 relay and running the 100 meters at City Finals.

“Brandon was so happy to get the award because his cousin Mylz Blake won it in 2011,” said Spector, who first organized the decades-old tradition of pre-game meals at Gladstone’s that continues to this day. “He has tremendous natural leadership qualities and will be a successful human being in whatever he does because he gets along so well with people. I’m proud I could give it to him in person after all the delays.”