Dolphins Take First Road Trip Friday

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

After four straight home games to start the season, the Palisades Charter High School varsity football team travels to Studio City to face Harvard-Westlake in its first road game and second straight intersectional contest Friday night, September 20, at 7 p.m.

The Dolphins (3-1) will try to get back on the winning track in the wake of their first loss last week in their annal Sunset Showdown against Brentwood.

The Wolverines (2-2) are riding high following their 25-14 victory over Royal. Their other win came August 30 by three points versus Palisades’ league rival Venice, which fell to 0-3 after getting crushed by Narbonne 55-7 in Harbor City last Friday, September 13.

Palisades and Harvard-Westlake have not met since the programs split a home-and-home set in 2013 and 2014. The visiting Dolphins stunned the Wolverines 45-18 in a huge upset in 2013 in their first season under coach Tim Hyde. Harvard-Westlake got revenge the following year with a 37-21 triumph at Stadium by the Sea.

Harvard-Westlake wound up 4-6 overall and 1-3 (third place) in the Del Rey League last season. They lost their opener this year 41-21 at Cleveland and fell to Burroughs Burbank 28-6 in Week 2. So far they are led by all-purpose back Aaryan Mehdi Williams and wide receiver/defensive back Ellis Robinson, both sophomores.

Quarterback Jack Thomas has posted impressive numbers in the Dolphins’ first four games, completing 52 of 84 attempts for 873 yards, 11 touchdowns, one interception and a QB rating of 121.5. He has also rushed 16 times for 198 yards and two more scores.

LeHenry Solomon leads all receivers with 15 grabs for 383 yards and three touchdowns; King Demethris has 13 receptions for 255 yards and five touchdowns, and Max Hejazi has caught 13 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Jake Treibatch has a team-leading 46 tackles (11.5 for losses) and a blocked punt.

Offensive line coach and Palisades alum Syr Riley challenged the Dolphins in the postgame gathering after the heartbreaking loss to Brentwood: “How are you gonna respond tomorrow? Control what you can control. Real men are defined by how they handle defeat.”

Friday’s game is Palisades’ last before its bye week. The Dolphins will return to action October 4 when they open Western League play at Fairfax.