By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The Palisades High varsity football team didn’t try anything fancy to beat Granada Hills on Friday night at Stadium by the Sea. It simply found a successful formula and stuck to it.
The result was a 56-17 blowout — the largest winning margin by either team in the 11-year history of the Charter Bowl — even though head coach Tim Hyde didn’t have much time to savor the victory.
“I’m really proud of the team for rallying during the week after that really physical and emotional game against Sylmar,” said Hyde, who left for the airport immediately after the game to catch a red-eye flight to Boston for a wedding. “We love playing the Charter Bowl and we make it our Super Bowl for that week.”
The teams combined to score 73 points for the second straight time in the series, but unlike last season when Palisades prevailed 39-34, the Dolphins dominated Friday’s game from start to finish, racking up 500 yards on offense despite a running clock for the entire fourth quarter.
Jonah Manheim, who started the season at tight end but replaced injured quarterback Gabe Galef early in the opener against Sierra Canyon and took every snap under center at Sylmar, managed the game to perfection, repeatedly tossing to his backs for big yardage on jet sweeps and scoring twice himself — first on a one-yard sneak in the second quarter and again on a six-yard quarterback draw for the Dolphins’ final touchdown with 10:49 left.
“Never shy away from stuff that works,” said Manheim, who afterwards joined his teammates in hoisting the coveted bronze trophy the winning school gets to keep on campus. “The offensive line played a fantastic game and really manhandled them up front. The more reps I can get the better but I’m having fun.”
Innocent Okoh led the rushing attack with 188 yards and two touchdowns in only 12 carries — an average of 15.6 yards per run.
“I didn’t expect to carry the load like that, but the line gave me big holes,” said Okoh, who sat out the whole second half.
Marrio Lofton scored on runs of two and five yards (the second after senior defensive tackle Nathan Campos recovered a fumble at the Highlanders’ 19-yard line) as Palisades led 42-10 at halftime and held Granada Hills (0-3) to 69 yards through two quarters.
After Aaron Butler was shoved out of bounds inches short of the pylon following a 39-yard scamper, Stone Maderer plowed into the end zone to make it 49-17 late in the third quarter. Pierre Kaku scored on a 10-yard run and kicker Jake Taitelman made all seven extra points for the Dolphins (2-1), who have a much-needed bye next week.
Palisades has won five in a row against the Highlanders and improved to 7-4 in the annual rivalry that began in 2006. The previous record for margin of victory was 38 when Granada Hills won 48-10 in 2007.
“This staff works hard to adapt every individual’s strength into the offense and defense we use each week,” said Hyde, who improved to 4-0 in the Charter Bowl. “[Offensive coordinator] Rocky Montz has done a tremendous job of molding this year’s players into what we feel will be the most successful offense. It’s all about what gives us the best chance to win the game.”
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