JV Football Passes First Road Test

Addressing his team moments after last Friday’s victory, Palisades High junior varsity football coach Ray Marsden called it “a good win… I guess.”

After blowing a 12-point lead at halftime and dropping its opener a week before, the squad looked more like the one that went 10-0 while allowing 20 points last year.

Brandon Forrest ran 14 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter and returned a punt 45 yards up the sideline for another score just before halftime to highlight the Dolphins’ 27-6 triumph in the afternoon heat at Sylmar.

Two plays after Palisades recovered a fumble at the Spartans’ 30-yard line Isaias Alegria ran  for a touchdown to make it 13-0, but Sebastian Conway-Burt’s ensuing extra point try was blocked.

Freshman defensive lineman Ricardo Abrego recovered a fumble late in the second quarter and began the second half with a sack.   Ninth-grade defensive backs Ryan Crayton and Johnny Babala each intercepted a pass and quarterback Sloane Senofsky found Justin Gilbert for a 35-yard touchdown to make it 27-0 in the third quarter.

Sylmar’s only score was on a quarterback sneak witn 9:42 left, but the Dolphins held inside their  5-yard line in the final minute to preserve the final margin.

“Our first two TDs were all the running back… the line didn’t block,” Marsden said. “Scoring on special teams was nice, but we didn’t move the ball at will like we’re used to. I like that receivers finished their routs and didn’t deviate. That led to a touchdown.”