By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The Palisades High football program held its annual awards banquet Sunday in Mercer Hall
and there was much to celebrate after a season in which the junior varsity team won its third straight league title and the varsity captured its first outright league crown in 32 years then made the City Section Open Division playoffs for the second time in a row.
Varsity head coach Tim Hyde raced back to Palisades from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, where he was one of three City Section coaches honored before that afternoon’s Chargers-Vikings game, and expressed satisfaction in leading the program to four straight quarterfinal appearances. His goal for 2020, however, is to make the top four.
“We won nine games in a row for the first time since the 1970s and we went undefeated in league for the first time in 32 years,” Hyde said before thanking his staff and Pali Quarterback Club President Lisa Manheim and presenting each player a patch with the phrase ‘Western League 5-0 Undefeated Champs.’ “We also gave up fewer points in league than last year and these seniors will graduate having beaten Venice three out of four years.”
Hyde gave Manheim a bouquet of flowers before naming this year’s Pancake Award winners—each of whom received a gift card to IHOP—Nick Raddon, Justin Bahari, Jonathan Pizante, Sy Riley and junior offensive guard Nick Calcaterra, who led the team in that category for the second year in a row with 44 (he recorded 66 pancake blocks as a sophomore).
Next, Hyde recognized the five team captains: seniors Riley, Max Palees, Noah
Ghodooshim, Tayari Gloster and Xavier Whitfield. Winning the Brenden Daley “Compete Award” (named after one of Hyde’s former players) was wide receiver and snap holder Eli Manheim, whose older brother Jonah was a quarterback at Palisades and whose younger brother Toby is a linebacker and tight end on junior varsity. Bahari received the Focus Award for his stellar play at left tackle and punter/kicker Tommy Meek won the Impact Award after booming 36 kickoffs for touchbacks and averaging 44.6 yards per punt. Hyde called Meek the best kicker he’s had in his seven seasons at Palisades. Defensive Back of the Year honors went to strong safety Waka White while the Offensive Back of the Year was receiver Teddy Suisman, who led the team in receptions (33), receiving yards (580) and touchdown catches (10). Defensive end Immanuel Newell, who recorded a team-high eight sacks, was named Lineman of the Year while Ghodooshim was named Defensive MVP with 78 tackles and two interception returns for touchdowns.
Life Experience Coach Joe Spector, as he has done every year since the award was started in 1987, then presented Riley and Palees with the Player of the Year trophies. Riley became the fourth person to earn the honor twice. Hyde presented Spector with a new Pali High football sweater and announced that a bronze plaque dedicated to Spector will be installed outside the football office over Winter Break. Inscribed on the plaque will be Spector’s trademark saying: “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” A moved Spector expressed his thanks and gratitude.
For the JV squad, Tommy Cutrono was picked Lineman of the Year; Marcus Brown, Jr. was the Defensive MVP; tailback Max North was Rookie of the Year; quarterback Dylan Hassid was Offensive Player of the Year; and defensive end/cornerback Xavier Smith was named MVP.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.