Fast Start

Pali High Football Opens Season with 35-19 Victory over El Camino Real

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Only time will tell if the Palisades High football team  is as good as last year’s version but the players believe they can be and from the moment defensive back Savyour Riley tore through the banner and led the Dolphins onto the field there was never a hint of doubt about the outcome of last Friday’s season opener at Stadium by the Sea.

Looking every bit like a City Open Division contender, Palisades blitzed El Camino Real from the first kickoff  and never letting up until the scoreboard clock showed zeros.   

The final margin was 35-19, but the difference felt even more decisive, for the Dolphins seemingly did whatever they wanted on offense. The only thing that stopped them from piling up more points, in fact, was their own miscues.      

“We have to clean up the penalties and the bad snaps, but other than that I’m proud of you,” head coach Chris Hyduke told his group afterwards. “Time to turn the page.”

Game captains Riley, tight end Cameron Kohan and lineman Christian Baud were a confident trio walking to midfield for the pre-game coin toss and after winning it chose to receive, giving the offense a chance to set the tone.

On the fifth play of the first drive, quarterback Roman La Scala threw long to Kohan, who was dragged down from behind inside the Royals’ 10-yard-line. Two snaps later, Riley ran seven yards up the middle for Palisades’ first touchdown of the season, firing up his teammates on the sideline and sending the home fans into a frenzy.

“It was exhilarating, it  set the tone and got our engines running,” said Riley, who would later intercept a pass on defense. “I’m glad they called my number.”

No one had a bigger impact on the game than tailback Chris Washington, who put on a performance his favorite NFL runner Marshawn Lynch would have been proud of. Before his night was done he had amassed well over 200 yards—including an electrifying 75-yard touchdown  after breaking three tackles at the line of scrimmage—and  added a 35-yard scoring catch on a perfectly-placed pass by La Scala that put his team up 28-7 just before halftime.    

Opening lanes for his brother was center Nick Washington.

“It’s great having a brother on the team—he’s someone who always has my back and can block for me,” Chris said. “I’m diverse, I can do it all like Daniel [Anoh] last year—that’s my strength. This is a good start but there’s still certain things we can improve on like holding our blocks longer. For me, I need to read the holes faster.”

La Scala and another junior, Zachary Lifton, alternated possessions under center and the strategy worked as both  appeared sharp. Lifton ended the Dolphins’ second series with a 23-yard bullet to receiver Sean Grier, who also  recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter.

“My first drive was smooth, put the pedal to the metal,” said Lifton, a transfer from West Hills Chaminade. “It’s hard not playing every series. I broke my foot and didn’t play much [as a sophomore] so I came here really wanting to play. We get along and we push each other.”

Anthony Lieberman, a state qualifier int he 100-meter dash and long jump, took Washington’s place in the backfield late in the game and burst 20 yards for a touchdown to cap the Dolphins’ scoring.

“Chris did crazy good and that’s his spot. I’km just here to back him up but it felt great to punch that last one in,” Lieberman said. “It was my first touchdown ever. I’m happy to help the team however I can.”    

Devin Howard rushed for a score and caught a touchdown pass for El Camino Real, the City Division II champion last year.

Palisades has won 15 of 16 games since Week 2 of the 2020 campaign and figures to get better as younger players gain more game experience.

Next up for the Dolphins is their first road test. On Friday, they will travel to San Fernando—a team they crushed by 43 points 12 months ago.

The JV game kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity at 7.