Homecoming Game Friday

The Palisades High varsity football team will be playing for pride tomorrow at 7 p.m. in its homecoming game against Fairfax. The Dolphins’ hopes of a third consecutive playoff berth ended with a 27-14 loss at Hamilton last Friday afternoon, meaning the best Palisades (1-8, 0-4) can finish is tied for fifth place in the Western League. Fairfax (4-5, 3-1) lost a close game to Venice but remains in second place in league play entering Friday night’s season finale at Stadium by the Sea. The Lions have won the last three meetings between the schools. PaliHi head coach Leo Castro knows his team will have to play its best to end its six-game losing streak. ‘That team is going to come in here with a lot to play for,’ Castro said. ‘There’s a lot riding on this game for them because if they win, they could make the upper division playoffs. So I’m sure they won’t overlook us. We have to expect them to be very motivated.’ To avoid finishing last in league for the second time in four seasons, the Dolphins must avoid the costly turnovers and untimely penalties that have plagued them all season long. Starting quarterback and kicker Dylan Cohen, who sat out the Hamilton game with a hip pointer, may be available to punt on Friday but is unlikely to play a down at quarterback. That duty will again fall to Stephen Collins, who started against Hamilton, and Robert Gillette. Palisades lost four fumbles in the first two quarters against the Yankees (1-8, 1-3)’one on a kickoff and another on a punt return’and trailed 20-0 at halftime. It looked as if the Dolphins might mount a comeback when they marched 58 yards to score on the opening drive of the second half. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Collins was stopped short of the end zone but reached over the goal line with the ball. Brandon Bryant dropped the ensuing two-point conversion pass and Pali trailed 20-6. Hamilton responded on its next possession, driving 57 yards for a score to increase its lead to 27-6 late in the third quarter. Tailback Andre Harris provided most of Palisades’ offense, rushing for almost 100 yards and scoring on a two-yard run with 40 seconds left in the game. However, Harris fumbled at the 1-yard line in the third quarter and the Yankees recovered in their end zone for a touchback. ‘We have to stop being our own worst enemy out there,’ Castro said. ‘We have one game left and I’m hoping we can end our season on a positive note.’ Palisades’ frosh/soph squad lost 21-14 when host Hamilton scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final seconds.