As the final seconds ticked off the clock last Friday night, Leo Castro looked to the sky and shook his head, perhaps hoping divine intervention would alter the outcome of a game he thought his team would win. Instead, Palisades High’s head football coach was struggling for answers after a 20-10 nonleague loss at Monroe that dropped the Dolphins to 1-3 overall. Again, it was turnovers and penalties that proved to be Pali’s undoing. The Dolphins failed on two fourth down conversions in the red zone and were flagged nine times for 90 yards, most of them holding calls after substantial gains by Andre Harris. Harris again led the Dolphins’ ground attack with 82 yards in 11 carries, but Pali could muster little offense after its opening drive, which ended with a 40-yard field goal by Dylan Cohen that gave the Dolphins a short-lived 3-0 lead. Cohen was pressured all game, completing 6 of 12 passes for 99 yards with two interceptions. He made the play of the game by scrambling out of trouble to find Brandon Bryant deep donwfield for a 49-yard touchdown that pulled Pali within 14-10 just before halftime, but the Dolphins didn’t score again. In the preceding frosh/soph game, the only thing more bizarre than the final score was the referee’s call on the play that decided the contest. Trailing 5-3 late in the fourth quarter, Pali quarterback Michael Latt threw a desperation pass that was intercepted at the three yard line by Monroe’s safety, who then ran into the end zone and was tackled by Raymond Elie for an apparent game-tying safety. But game officials ruled that the Monroe players’ momentum had carried him into the end zone, the Vikings were awarded a touchback and they subsequently ran out the clock. Despite the loss there were bright spots for Palisades (1-2-1). Donovan Blount rushed for 80 yards and freshman Kennie Merino kicked a 25-yard field goal.
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