A Homecoming Party

Dolphins’ Record Improves to 9-0 Following 51-0 Shutout of Fairfax

By STEVE GALLUZZO  |  Sports Editor

History was made last Friday evening at Stadium by the Sea, where the Palisades High football team celebrated homecoming  with its 12th consecutive victory—a program record—and made the alumni in attendance proud by beating Fairfax 51-0. It marked the Dolphins’ third shutout of the season and clinched at least a share of their fifth Western League crown since 2015. They can win the title outright with a victory at Westchester tomorrow night.     

“This group of kids is so loose—they love to have fun—and us coaches had to channel that a bit in the beginning,” first-year head coach Chris Hyduke said. “But when they get on the field  it’s all business, they listen to what we tell them and they’re very self-motivated, which is  great. They realize the opportunity in front of them to do things that no Palisades team has ever done before.”

The primary goal from the start of camp has been to win the City Section title—a feat the Dolphins have yet to accomplish. In fact, they have only made the finals twice, both decades before any of the current players were born. The first was way back in 1974 when Palisades lost to San Fernando 12-10 at the L.A. Coliseum (there was only one playoff division then). The second was in 1987 when the Dolphins fell to Franklin 30-14 in the 3A (lower division) title game.

Of course, to achieve their goal the Dolphins must take it one game at a time—something they have done so far, as shown in their ability to jump out to early leads as they did against the Lions (2-5).    

“We’ve been pretty good about not getting ahead of ourselves, not taking games for granted and just focusing on the opponent in front of us,” Hyduke added. “Hopefully we continue to do that. Things only get tougher from here on out.”  

It took less than two minutes for the Dolphins to score the only points they would need last Friday. A bobbled snap led to the ball being batted out the back of the end zone for a safety. On the ensuing drive  Daniel Anoh plunged over the goal line from one yard out for the first of his three touchdowns and just like that the Dolphins led 9-0.     

Like many offensive starters, Anoh sat out for the entire second half, but in two quarters of action he gained 140 yards in 13 carries, an average of 10.8 yards per rush.  He is five touchdowns shy of tying the school single-season record of 24 set by Terence O’Neal in 1998.   

“At the start of the season it was all about winning City and that’s still the main goal,” Anoh said. “It’s extremely exciting knowing records are still possible and it makes me a bit anxious, but the most important thing right now is to stay healthy.”    

Anoh has run for 1,233 yards and is chasing the program’s single-season rushing mark of 1,965 yards set by Innocent Okoh in 2016. Okoh is now a senior tailback at Presentation College in South Dakota.

Sammy Silvia continues to be the unsung hero of Palisades’ success. He enjoyed another efficient game at quarterback, completing 10 of 14 passes for 167 yards, including touchdowns of 50 yards to Moses Ross and 17 yards to Xavier Smith.     Silvia has thrown for 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions in five games since taking over for injured starter Dylan Hassid.

Amari Yolas excelled on both sides of the ball, scoring on a 78-yard touchdown run and making a leaping interception at the goal line.        

Ross had four catches for 98 yards, Savyour Riley picked off his first pass of the year, Matt Fahn and Immanuel Robinson each had a sack and Trinity Camden paced the defense with five tackles.   

Giovanni Ferrero made all seven of his extra-point kicks and has been successful on 36 of his 38 tries this season.

    Roman La Scala dazzled in his  varsity debut at quarterback, completing all five of his pass attempts for 56 yards—the last of which was  a nine-yard scoring toss to favorite target and fellow junior varsity call-up Braydon Sanford.

    “I’m learning way more on varsity,” said La Scala, who accounted for 13 touchdowns (seven passing, six rushing) in seven JV games. “It’s faster and guys hit harder, but  in the end it’s still football.”