Coach Hyde Expects Tough Game at Venice

Pali High football coach Tim Hyde shares his thoughts about Friday’s game.

For all the hype leading up to Friday’s showdown with Western League champion Venice, it’s just another football game to Palisades High head coach Tim Hyde.

“How can you call it a rivalry when the same team wins every year?” he asked after Tuesday’s practice.

Venice has ruled the Western League for more than a decade and has defeated Palisades 13 straight times. However, the Gondos’ 43-game league winning streak ended in a 14-7 loss to University last week and they enter Friday’s matchup with a less-than-impressive 1-5 record. Also, the contest will be televised live as Time Warner Cable’s “Game of the Week.”

None of that changes Hyde’s approach to the game one iota.

“It’s a typical Venice team — big linemen, talent at the skill positions and a lot of speed,” Hyde said. “This is a road trip for us, which means we have to play great defense, we have to run the ball and we have to play good on special teams. I’m sure it’s going to come down to a field goal somewhere and we feel we have the best kicker in the City in Ethan Erickson.”

The last time Palisades beat Venice was in 2000 when then state passing leader David Koral was the Dolphins’ quarterback and Steve Clarkson (who established the Air 7 Quarterback Academy) was their Offensive Coordinator. Fourteen years have passed and the Dolphins have undergone six head coaching changes since then.

For Palisades’ seniors the motivation is palpable and the time is now.

“I don’t want to graduate without having beaten Venice,” said running back Desmond Box, who ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns in only 11 carries in last week’s 43-0 victory over Westchester. “Offensively, we all have to do our jobs because the best quarterback, running backs and receivers in the Western League are at Palisades.”

Hyde’s first crack at Venice resulted in a 34-7 loss last season at Stadium by the Sea, but the Dolphins were the only league opponent to score on the Gondos.

“Win or lose we still have three games left after this and so do they,” Hyde said. “I’ve seen every team on film and anyone can beat anyone. It’s a very competitive league this year so you have to bring your ‘A’ game, play hard for 48 minutes and see what the score is at the end.”

The frosh/soph game kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 7 p.m. at Venice High.

— Steve Galluzzo