Charter Champs

Dolphins Top Granada Hills 42-28 to Reclaim Trophy

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

When Dylen Smith greeted opposing coach Bucky Brooks at midfield moments after Friday night’s game he got more than just a handshake. He also got the bronze Charter Bowl trophy that goes to the winner of the annual  grudge game between the City Section’s first two charter schools. The prize is back in Dolphins country thanks to a convincing 42-28 victory over Granada Hills and the first thing Smith did was hold it high for his players to see—the first time he has gotten to do so, but what he hopes will not be the last.

“Dymally was the the warm-up, Roosevelt was the setup and this was the appetizer, the main dish, the dessert… everything,” said Smith, who was dealt a painful 26-10 defeat in his first Charter Bowl experience last fall and wanted desperately to      erase the memory. The Venice game last year was for the league title so that was important and you always remember your very first win, but this one’s definitely going to be top three when it’s all said and done.”

The game was supposed to have been played at Granada Hills, but with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in the San Fernando Valley the decision was made a day before  to move it to Stadium by the Sea.

“I didn’t care where we played, I wanted the trophy back,” Smith said. “I’d have played it on Venus!”

Palisades improved to 12-5 in a series that debuted in 2006 and the Dolphins notched their 10th victory in the last 11 Charter Bowl contests.

Two of Smith’s assistants were also euphoric and made sure to pose with the trophy: linebackers coach Kelly Loftus, who piloted the Dolphins to their first Charter Bowl win as head coach in 2008; and offensive line coach Syr Riley, who never lost the game as a player and now adds a “charter” triumph as a coach at his alma mater. “It’s way harder being a coach,” Riley said. “You’re stuck on the sideline and have no control over what happens on the field.”

Fortunately for Riley, quarterback Jack Thomas was in complete control of Palisades’ up-tempo offense from the outset, connecting with wideout King Demethris for a 67-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage and adding three more scoring throws before his night was done. The junior transfer from Loyola had his most efficient outing as a Dolphin, completing 14 of 23 passes for 309 yards rushing seven times for 61 more yards.

After Nasir Enilolobo’s seven-yard pulled the Highlanders within two points late in the first quarter, the home team answered with a nine-play, 70-yard drive capped by Deveron Kearney’s one-yard run. On the eight play of its next drive Palisades made it 22-6 on Thomas’ 11-yard toss to Max Hejazi.

Back-to-back two-yard touchdown runs by quarterback Jonathan Hernandez cut Granada Hills’ deficit to two, but then receiver LeHenry Solomon turned a routine sideline catch into an electrifying 56-yard touchdown by using nifty moves to make two defenders miss and outrunning the safety to the end zone.

Solomon came up huge again in the third quarter after Thomas got sacked, lost his helmet and had to sit out a play. Solomon lined up in  the wildcat formation, took the snap and bolted to his right as if he were going to sweep to that side. Seeing there was no seam, he suddenly reversed field and outraced three defenders to the goal line and dove over the pylon for a 27-yard touchdown that restored Palisades’ two score lead. Demethris caught  his second touchdown pass—this one a 47-yard strike from Thomas—to close out the scoring with 1:43 left.

“If I’m being honest I think we have the best receiving corp in the City,” Solomon said. “I’m blessed to have great teammates. Credit to them for coming back. They never let up. I like dogfights. That’s what proves yourself as a player.”

Palisades will look for more revenge when it hosts Brentwood in the “Sunset Showdown” on Friday. The Eagles won 43-24 last year.