Palisades’ Passing Game Is Right on Target

Pali High senior Herbert Acosta describes his touchdowns against Westchester.

On his team’s first play from scrimmage, Palisades High quarterback P.J. Hurst dropped back and gunned a pass deep over the middle. It was no surprise to him that Herbert Acosta was there to receive the ball.

The senior wideout made the catch, slithered free from two defenders and raced 55 yards for a score that set the tone in Friday’s 43-0 blowout of Westchester. Although the two made it look easy, their chemistry is a product of hours practicing — and practice, as they say, makes perfect.

“I know exactly where he’s going to be on every play and he knows where I’m going to throw it,” Hurst said. “Herbert’s always making me look good.”

Hurst and Acosta hooked up again later in the first quarter — this time the play covered 45 yards — to make it 23-0 and the rout was on. What Acosta lacks in height (he’s only 5-foot-5) he more than makes up for with precise route-running and maybe the surest pair of hands on the team.

“On the first one, we did not have it planned but Coach Hyde told us he wanted an air attack,” Acosta said. “P.J. saw the safety on the other side, threw me the ball and I was wide open. The second one was a repeat. They didn’t adjust, P.J. saw that and I was wide open again.”

Acosta was named one of the senior captains before the season started — a role he has embraced — and while he still leads by example he has become more vocal in the huddle and on the bench between series. He is Palisades’ most prolific receiver and has terrorized opposing secondaries the last four games to the tune of 16 catches for 408 yards.

Hurst completed all but two of his 12 attempts Friday night and distributed them to five different receivers as head coach Tim Hyde and offensive coordinator Rocky Montz let loose the reins and let Hurst’s accurate arm pass the Dolphins to victory.

“P.J. is a tremendous talent, a great leader and we want to let him throw the ball and win games for us,” Hyde said. “We have a lot of faith, a lot of trust and a lot of confidence in him.”

Defending Western League champion Venice is up next and you can be sure the Gondoliers will devote time at practice next week preparing for the Hurst-to-Acosta connection. Whether or not they can stop it remains to be seen.

— Steve Galluzzo