Power Shift

Dolphins Control the Clock and Use Stifling Defense to Throttle Venice, 38-14

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

When Tim Hyde took over the Palisades High football program seven years ago, Venice was the team to beat in the Western League. Not anymore.

The Dolphins made it clear Monday afternoon that the balance of power has shifted and took a giant step toward their first undisputed league title in over three decades with a resounding 38-14 triumph at Stadium by the Sea.

It wasn’t just a win but a statement—a testament to how far the program has come after suffering 15 consecutive agonizing defeats to the Gondoliers. Since then Palisades has won three out of four against its arch nemesis and Monday’s margin of victory was the Dolphins’ widest in the history of a rivalry that dates back to 1961. Venice still holds a 28-23-2 edge. 

The 2013 Venice squad routed Palisades 34-7 behind quarterback Zander Diamont, who went on to play at the University of Indiana. His younger brother Luca, who is committed to Duke, is now the signal-caller but in his three starts against Palisades—all losses—he has thrown for two touchdowns.

“He’s a super-talented kid but we were able to rattle him,” Hyde said. “Sy [Riley] had some huge hits on their running back. He busted a few early but we corralled them and they went away from it.”      

Last year’s game was finished on Saturday after being suspended  because of lightning and Palisades  rallied from a 10-point deficit to shock the Gondoliers, 24-17. This  year’s game was supposed to have been played last Friday night, but  poor air quality as a result of the Saddle Ridge brush fire postponed it until Monday.

“We practice every week for different teams but we practice for Venice 365 days a year,” said Max Palees, who rushed for three short touchdowns, the last a three-yard dive to give Palisades a 17-point lead with 9:23 to go. “This is our rivalry, they’re in our heads all the time. We were really angry we didn’t play them on Friday so we were impatient to put 20 on them. We haven’t beaten them in about 20 years at home so that’s why we were dumping water on coach and celebrating. It feels super good.”

Venice received the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 10 plays, scoring on Diamont’s five-yard keeper. After Lynale Moore intercepted a pass by Palisades quarterback Forrest Brock near the 45-yard line the Gondoliers were threatening to go ahead by two scores, but Riley had other ideas. The Dolphins’ senior linebacker and captain tipped a ball in the flat, allowing defensive end Immanuel Newell to intercept it at midfield and he rumbled to the Venice 19 before being dragged down from behind by Diamont. Two plays later, Palees plowed over the goal line to tie the score.   

“I saw that the quarterback was going to throw it, Sy made a great play tipping the ball and I caught it,” Newell said. “I took off for the end zone but I was tired.”

A long punt return by Xavier Whitfield set up Palees’ second score and Tommy Meek booted a 32-yard field goal to cap the Dolphins’ next possession. Diamont drove Venice 75 yards on its next  series, connecting with receiver Jaboree Thornton on a six-yard strike to trim the Gondoliers’ deficit to three. However, Palisades drove 83 yards in seven plays and Brock hit Teddy Suisman in stride for a 25-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 24-14 before halftime.         

Kenny Cline rushed for 131 yards in 19 carries and added the exclamation point with a one-yard plunge with 3:41 left.

Diamont threw for 171 yards but he was sacked three times and when he was picked off by Ryan Crayton with two minutes left, the Dolphins’ sideline erupted in joy.