Scoring Spree

Palisades’ Offense Sets Charter Bowl Record in 59-44 Triumph over Granada Hills at Santa Monica College

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Seeing the Charter Bowl trophy brings out the best in Jack Thomas. After throwing four touchdown passes in last year’s grudge game against Granada Hills, Palisades High’s senior quarterback tossed a career-best six in last Friday’s 59-44 triumph at Santa Monica College.

Thomas also ran for a score as the Dolphins (2-0) broke the record for points in the Charter Bowl, bettering the 56 they hung on the Highlanders in 2016, and improved to 13-5 in a series that began in 2006.     

In two Charter Bowl performances, Thomas has been a maestro: 39 completions for 696 yards, 10 touchdowns, zero interceptions, a 139.3 rating and, most importantly, he has led his team to two victories.

It did not take long for the offense to take flight Friday. On the fifth play from scrimmage, Thomas connected with Malachi Ross for a 38-yard TD. The next time the Dolphins had the football they scored twice, but only one of them counted. Harrison Carter’s 43-yard catch and run was nullified by a holding penalty but two snaps later Deveron Kearney found a hole up the middle and ran for an 11-yard score to make it 13-6.Thomas whipped a short pass to Ross in the flat and the junior wideout  faked out several defenders on his way to a 26-yard touchdown to cap  Palisades’ third drive. Thomas got flushed from the pocket but scrambled for a five-yard score, then threw to King Demethris for a two-point conversion that made it 27-22 late in the second quarter and Demethris caught a 43-yard TD pass to put the Dolphins up 35-30 at halftime.

The Highlanders (1-2) were as effective on the ground as Palisades was through the air and took their last lead, 36-35, on a short run by Jonathan Hernandez midway through the third quarter. Thomas answered with a 15-yard strike to Demare Dezeurn on fourth-and-goal and closed the show with scoring tosses of 37 and seven yards to Demethris. Skyler Walters led the defense with 22 tackles. Palisades travels to Brentwood on Friday for the annual “Sunset Showdown.” Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

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