Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Since the school opened in 1961 the Pali High football team has never won a section title. The Dolphins hope to change that Saturday. Here is a look back at the Dolphins’ three previous trips to the finals:
1974
The closest Palisades has ever come to winning a gridiron title was 50 years ago when the Dolphins came up one play short in the championship game against a San Fernando squad conisdered one of the City’s best ever. Back then there was only one 16-team division. The Dolphins reached the final at the LA Coliseum by shuting out Cleveland, Roosevelt and Gardena. Trailing 12-10 with the final seconds ticking away, Dick North’s team had a chance to pull off the upset but Rick Myers’ 43-yard field goal in the fog was wide.
1987
This time the Dolphins were vying for the 3A Division crown riding the arm of quarterback Perry Klein, whose 3,896 passing yards were at the time the second-most ever in a single season nationally. Under Jack Epstein the Dolphins won their first league title since 1978 and qualified for the middle of three playoff tiers. The final was played at East LA College and the Dolphins trailed 21-14 through three quarters before losing to Franklin, 30-14.
2022
It took Palisades 35 years to make it back to the finals, albeit in Division I after making the Open Division the year before. Chris Hyduke’s bunch beat Huntington Park, Dymally and Narbonne to secure a matchup with No. 1 Granada Hills at Valley College. Utah-bound tailback Dijon Stanley ran for 367 yards and five scores in the Highlanders’ 44-7 rout.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
