Back in the Blue

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Palisades High football player Augie Evans can certainly attest to that. After transferring to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame for his sophomore year the 6-5, 200-pound tight end is happy to back in Dolphins blue this fall and should see plenty of passes thrown his way.

“It was an excellent opportunity and  I got a lot of good coaching,” Evans said about his experience at Notre Dame, where he primarily  played defense for the Knights. “I wouldn’t take it back but I didn’t fit in as well there. Over the spring I thought about it and I decided I belong here. Pali is my home.”

Evans learned on the job in his freshman year with the Dolphins, being thrust into a varsity starting role after senior tight Cameron Kohan got injured in the season opener. In three games his place, Evans had four catches for 15 yards and two touchdowns. He also contributed on defense, assisting on three tackles and a sack and recovering a fumble.    

Situations change fast in the world of high school football these days.

Two years ago, Palisades had a different head coach (Chris Hyduke) and a different starting quarterback (Roman La Scala, who graduated in June). In fact, the last time Evans strapped on the pads at Stadium by the Sea, current coach Dylen Smith was still an assistant at Brentwood.

“I really like him and I’m getting to know him more,” Evans said of Smith, who piloted the Dolphins to the Western League title and an Open Division playoff berth in his first season. “It’s more of an adjustment for me in that everyone else has been with him a year already.”

Making the transition easier has been the presence of quarterback Jack Thomas who, like his fellow Palisadian and friend, transferred to his neighborhood school for his junior season. Thomas played his first two years at Loyola and is splitting reps in practice with Brett Federman, La Scala’s backup last fall.

“I’ve been working on my route running with Jack every week since March,” said Evans, who showcased his multi-faceted skills in camps at the University of San Diego, USC, UCLA and Redlands in June. In the last 24 months he has learned how to lead and now that he’s an upperclassman he hopes his tireless work ethic rubs off: “I have confidence in our team. I want to motivate other guys. Mostly I want to win. If I don’t play a single snap I’ll still be happy as long as we’re winning.”