Pali Gets Even with Monroe, 10-6

Elie Scores Decisive Touchdown in Fourth Quarter as Dolphins Win Second Straight

All week, players on the Palisades High football team practiced hard to achieve one goal: getting even. Coming off their first victory, the Dolphins were trying to avoid a similar fate as last year when they committed four turnovers in a 20-10 loss at Monroe–the first of seven straight defeats to end the season. Well into the fourth quarter of a defensive struggle last Friday night at Stadium by the Sea it appeared history was about to repeat itself. But Palisades’ offense woke up just in time to mount a six-play, 65-yard scoring drive with 8:54 left and the Dolphins’ defense stopped Monroe’s final drive at midfield to escape with a 10-6 victory. Junior Raymond Elie scored the go-ahead touchdown on a quarterback sneak and Esteban Moreno’s extra-point kick gave the Dolphins their first lead since midway through the second quarter. The Vikings (0-4) responded by driving from their own 13-yard line to Palisades’ 41 before the Dolphins’ defense stiffened. After a run wide for no gain and an incomplete pass, Pali defensive end Deonte Baker sacked Monroe quarterback Donald Senegal for a loss at the Vikings’ 49-yard line. Then, on fourth down, Pali defensive back Ryan Henry broke up a pass intended for Diego Gutierrez and the Dolphins (2-2) took over on downs with 3:20 remaining. Monroe never got the ball back. On third and 7, Marquise Coleman plowed up the middle for eight yards and a first down. Two plays later, Robert Gillett gained five yards around left end and Coleman gained five yards on third and four to give the Dolphins a second first down which allowed Elie to kneel down twice and run out the clock. Palisades took a 3-0 lead on its first possession when Esteban Moreno booted a 42-yard field goal. Monroe drove 78 yards in 12 plays and took the lead on a five-yard run by Travis Foster. Henry blocked the point-after kick after which neither team mustered much offense until the fourth quarter. The Vikings missed a chance to widen their lead late in the third quarter when a snap over Moreno’s head on a punt attempt gave Monroe the ball at Palisades’ 15-yard line. However, Christian Clark sacked Senegal twice in four plays and the Dolphins took over on downs. The hardfought victory was important because it gave Pali a chance to enter Western League play with a winning record, provided the Dolphins can beat St. Monica, a small Southern Section school, Friday night at Stadium by the Sea. The Mariners (1-3) lost to Santa Monica, 48-6, last week.