The Palisades High football team takes on Harvard-Westlake on Thursday night and in case Dolphins head coach Tim Hyde wasn’t aware of the magnitude of the game in the community he’s been reminded several times this week by people he’s met around town.
“I’ve had two Harvard-Westlake parents tell me that they’re going to beat us because we beat them last year,” Hyde said Tuesday. “Talking smack to me — I kid you not. My response was ‘Well, that was last year.’ All I keep hearing is how bad they want to beat us, so we’ll see what happens.”
Harvard-Westlake has had a pipeline to Pacific Palisades for years, with local athletes in many sports attending the private school in Studio City. Football is no exception and the Wolverines’ current team includes several Palisadians: center/nose guard Bryce Terman, receiver/safety Brendan Sanderson, running back/safety Michael Mapes, receiver/linebacker Nicholas O’Brien and running back Carter Begel.
Palisades crashed the Wolverines’ homecoming party last season with a shocking 45-18 victory, but the Dolphins know they won’t be underestimated this time.
“A lot of my friends are on that team from St. Matthew’s, so it’s bragging rights,” quarterback P.J. Hurst said. “Actually, I played Pop Warner with their quarterback Marshal Cohen — he played receiver for us — and also Michael Mapes.”
Both teams have 3-1 records and are coming off decisive wins. Palisades won 28-0 in its annual Charter Bowl against Granada Hills last week and Harvard-Westlake routed Westchester 49-9 — a game Hyde followed with interest because his team opens Western League play against the Comets next Friday.
“They’re the fastest team we’ve played,” Hyde said. “It’s like preparing to play Oregon and the no-huddle. Look at the scores of their last three games. They’re explosive on offense and their defense brings pressure on every down. It’ll be a great challenge for us Thursday night.”
Hyde will be matching wits with one of his most respected colleagues, Wolverines head coach Scot Ruggles, whose father Sandy is a coaching icon in Central Massachusetts, now in his 31st season at North Middlesex High.
“Scot and I became recruiting buddies, we’ve always kept in touch and before I took this job he and I talked about coaching together somewhere,” Hyde said. “Before the game last year we hung out and chit-chatted for about 40 minutes watching the JV game and talking about our programs. He’s a great guy and there’s mutual respect.”
The junior varsity game kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 7 p.m. at Stadium by the Sea. The Dolphins are 5-2 at home since Hyde took over the program last season.
— Steve Galluzzo
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