JV Football Blanked in Opener

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

A tough day at the office. That would be an accurate way to describe the Palisades High junior varsity football team’s season opener last Thursday afternoon at Stadium by the Sea.

The Dolphins were limited to only four first downs and committed three turnovers–including two in the red zone that led to touchdowns–in a 28-0 defeat to Chatsworth Sierra Canyon.

Afterwards, Pali High head coach Ray Marsden called the game an “open-ended tryout” and was more upset with the zero on the scoreboard than the zero in the win column.

“The defense gave it everything they had, but they were out there way too long,” Marsden said. “Still, I’d rather play the game and know what we have than not play at all like last year. I have a thick playbook I’d like to dip into, but we can’t run reverses and screens when we’re dropping the ball on a dive. Needless to say, we have to improve in all areas.”

Hunter Williams had two touchdowns and a two-point conversion and Brendan Gamble also scored a touchdown for the Trailblazers, who led 14-0 at halftime.

After stopping Sierra Canyon at the 2-yard line on fourth down to begin the fourth quarter, the Dolphins fumbled on the first play and JD Hernandez recovered the ball in the end zone for the Trailblazers’ final score.

Jack O’Rourke had a sack that forced a punt in the second quarter and Sy Riley made three tackles for losses for the Dolphins, who dropped their season opener for the first time since 2010.