Pali Works Overtime for Win

Anastasi’s Extra Point Lifts Dolphins’ Football Above Westchester, 21-20

When Alex Anastasi jogged onto the Westchester High field at the end of last Friday afternoon’s game he was more excited than nervous. Palisades’ sophomore kicker was grateful for a second chance after having a field goal blocked in the fourth quarter. This time, he was determined not to miss. Sure enough, his extra-point try split the uprights and lifted the Dolphins to a 21-20 overtime victory–their first over Westchester since 2002. Palisades needed to win to stay in contention for the Western League title and a possible playoff berth but also to rebound from its gut-wrenching 39-35 loss to Fairfax the previous week. “I messed up on that kick earlier so I was ready to hit this one,” said Anastasi, who was mobbed by teammates after the game-winning kick. “I didn’t want to let the team down.” Anastasi hooked a 25-yard field goal inside the left goalpost to give Palisades a seemingly insurmountable 17-point lead late in the third quarter but an encroachment penalty before the snap forced him to retry five yards closer and his second attempt was blocked. “I didn’t get it up high enough and coach told me that afterwards,” he said. “I was hoping that wouldn’t cost us the game.” Westchester responded with a 69-yard scoring pass from Chris Gafford to Andre Buford and a two-point conversion run by Fred Johnson to pull within 14-8 with 4:37 left in regulation. In a cruel twist of irony, Palisades punter Casey Jordan was run into by the Comets–a play eerily similar to one that led to the Dolphins’ loss to Fairfax–but it was ruled the ball was tipped and no penalty was called. Then, option quarterback Chris Jacobs turned a broken play into a 14-yard touchdown that tied the score with 14 seconds left. However, the Comets were flagged for excessive celebration, moving the extra-point attempt back 15 yards. Kalan Collins’ try was wide left, setting the stage for overtime. “My first thought after they tied it was ‘Here we go again,'” Dolphins’ Head Coach Kelly Loftus said. “It just goes to show how quickly momentum can change in a football game.” Westchester (2-5 overall, 1-1 in league) got the ball first in overtime and needed just two plays to score on a three-yard run by Johnson. However, he was stopped inches from the goal line on the two-point conversion, opening the door for Palisades (4-3, 1-1) to win with a touchdown and extra-point. Seeing a crack in the door, Palisades quarterback Conner Preston was not about to let it shut. On first down, he threw wide to Khalid Stevens on a slant. But on second down, he fired a laser to Tyquion Ballard, who beat two defenders to the pylon for the tying touchdown. Anastasi booted the decisive kick moments later. “The play we called was doubles with streaks and outs,” Preston said. “Tyquion ran the out and I threw it to him before he broke. He made a great catch and did a great job turning to get in the end zone.” Preston completed 18 of 26 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, both to Joseph Hyman, who caught seven balls for 116 yards and twice lost his helmet on bone-crunching hits. “Joe played great today,” Preston said. “He showed why he’s one of the best receivers in the City.” Stevens rushed for 92 yards in 17 carries and added four receptions for 51 yards. Ballard ran nine times for 56 yards and caught three passes for 27 yards. Palisades would’ve led by more than 7-0 at halftime had it not been stopped twice on fourth down inside the Comets’ one-yard line. Although pleased with the win, Loftus was disappointed his team let its lead slip away. “We scored more points than they did and for that you should be proud,” Loftus told his players. “But we have yet to play solid football for four quarters and that’s what we need to strive for.” Loftus was dismayed that Palisades was penalized 13 times for 95 yards–the fifth time in seven games the Dolphins reached double digits in penalties. His team’s effort, however, could not be questioned. “I’m pleased with the way we responded to adversity,” he said. “It would’ve been easy to get discouraged after they came back but we battled right back.” Anastasi worked on his field goal kicking and kickoffs all week in practice and but for one long return in the second quarter he was successful in pinning the Comets near the sidelines. “I guess the extra work helped,” he said. Preston connected with Hyman on a 19-yard scoring play with five seconds left in the first half, then found Hyman on a crossing route in the end zone early in the fourth quarter for a 14-0 lead. Having lost 22-21 to Peninsula earlier in the season Loftus was happy to be on the other end of a one-point game. “We’ll take it and go home,” he said as he boarded the bus. “This is never an easy place to win.”