Sylmar Stymies Pali Offense

If football games were played in a courtroom rather than on a gridiron, it’s safe to say the Palisades High varsity team did not make a persuasive opening statement. In the weeks leading up to last Friday night’s season opener, Dolphin players insisted they were better prepared than the squad that lost a school-record nine games last year. Rather than provide answers, however, Pali’s 47-0 loss to Sylmar at Stadium by the Sea raised more questions about where the program is headed. It was Pali’s eighth consecutive loss dating back to last season and many of the deficiencies evident in 2004 resurfaced Friday. Most obvious was the offensive line’s inability to protect the quarterback. Starting his first varsity game, Raymond Elie was sacked five times and rarely was able to complete a five-step drop without defenders in his face. He completed two of nine throws for 17 yards with one interception and rushed for seven yards in 10 attempts. Walking to the locker room after the game, Elie was noticeably frustrated. “They didn’t do anything we weren’t expecting,” he said. “Our line just has to block better.” PaliHi head coach Leo Castro, who dropped to 0-2 in season openers, attributed Pali’s protection problems to inexperience. “Three of our young men (on the offensive line) had never played a down of varsity football. We’re a young team and we’ll learn from our mistakes. We obviously have to look at the film and make some personnel adjustments.” Not only are the Dolphins young but they suited up just 28 players, making them thin at every position. “Against a good team like this, going both ways can tire you out by the fourth quarter,” Castro said. “We have a number of guys playing ironman football.” Although Sylmar is likely the toughest opponent Pali will face this season, Castro said his team must continue to improve week by week to have a chance at a winning record. “You don’t write off the season after one game, but clearly we got beat up front. The strength of any good team has to be the line–that’s the foundation of your house. If it’s good you can weather the storm. If it’s bad the roof will cave in. It all starts there.” “Offensive” might be the best word to describe Pali’s offense, which totaled a meager 40 yards. The Dolphins went three-and-out seven times. They did not gain a first down in the second half and managed only three all game. Sylmar, meanwhile, racked up 17 first downs and controlled the ball for all but four of the last 24 minutes. The final score might have been more lopsided had Sylmar coach London Woodfin not ordered his players off the field instead of running a play with 19 seconds left on first-and-goal inside Pali’s one-yard line. The one positive Castro took from the game is that Sylmar is not on next year’s schedule. “Look, they are one of the top teams in the City,” Castro said. “That’s what we told our kids. We lost but you can’t get so down that it affects your performance the next game.” A bright spot for Pali was the all-around play of senior receiver/cornerback Ryan Henry. He returned a kickoff 58 yards, made a 13-yard reception (Pali’s longest play from scrimmage) and intercepted two passes–the second on a hail mary to end the first half. “I’m very disappointed we weren’t able to put points on the board,” Castro said. “We wanted the kids to experience that feeling of scoring a touchdown. You never want to put up a goose egg.” C.J. Gable, reputed to be one of the best tailbacks in the City Section, had a quietly efficient night. His longest run was a 26-yard score that gave Sylmar a 28-0 lead in the second quarter, though he still wound up with 153 yards and three touchdowns in 20 carries. “It didn’t feel like I gained that much yardage, to be honest,” he said afterwards. “For some reason I was a step slow hitting the holes. We did okay for a first game but we can do a whole lot better than this. I know I can.” Castro was impressed with Gable: “He was as good as advertised. He didn’t bust a long one but he sure made us miss a lot and that’s what a good back does.” Palisades has four more games before its Western League opener against Venice, which beat Carson decisively Friday night. In fact, the other four teams in Pali’s league–Westchester, Fairfax, University and Hamilton, also won. As for the Dolphins’ resiliency, the jury is still out. “I’m not all that concerned about morale,” Castro said. “The attitude of this team is much better. Last year, before every game it was like a funeral. But there’s no quit in these kids. They’re just young, that’s all. They have a lot of pride and I think they’re going to bounce back strong.” Frosh/Soph Sylmar turned three first-half fumbles by Palisades into 21 points en route to a 28-8 victory at Stadium by the Sea. Brandon Quarles scored the Dolphins’ only touchdown on a five-yard run in the third quarter to cap a 10-play, 73-yard drive. Jerald Ingram caught two passes for 60 yards and also caught a two-point conversion pass from quarterback Alan Ferguson. Safety Milton Strausberg led the defense with 10 solo tackles and linebacker Miles Nelson added six. “In the first half we just weren’t executing,” Pali head coach Calvin Parker said. “That was the best team we’re going to play all year and yet we outscored them 8-7 in the second half.”