Pali High JV football player Cameron Bailey talks about shutting out Venice 14-0.
After his team’s inspired effort Friday afternoon at Stadium by the Sea, Palisades High junior varsity football coach Ray Marsden told his players he’ll consider bringing back an old tradition by rewarding them with doughnuts on Monday after a shutout.
The way they’re playing, the Dolphins can look forward to boxes full to eat in the coming weeks. They posted their third “doughnut” in five games this season with a 14-0 whitewash of archrival Venice and cleared their first hurdle in the race for the league title.
“Whether we won or lost I was proud of the effort today,” Marsden said. “Shutouts are nice but the big thing is the win. Venice has been the team to beat in this league for awhile and to defeat them two years in a row says a lot about the character of our guys.”
Quarterback Noah Karp got Palisades (4-1, 1-0) the only points it needed, capping the opening drive with a four-yard keeper and kicking the extra point. It looked like Venice (0-5, 0-1) would answer right back but defensive back Rayne Camden recovered a fumble on fourth down at the Dolphins’ 4-yard line.
Late in the second quarter, wide receiver Cameron Bailey caught a swing pass in the flat from Karp and took it 66 yards for a touchdown.
“We just listen to our coaches and fight hard all the way through the game,” said Bailey, who also had two interceptions in the secondary, one of which he returned for a score only to see it nullified by a penalty. “I credit my teammates for playing lockdown defense.”
Making Friday’s victory even sweeter was the fact that it was achieved without two key starters — two-way lineman Cole Aragon and running back/linebacker Dakota Hamilton — who were moved up to varsity for league. Venice drove inside Palisades’ 20-yard line three times but came away with nothing.
“Hopefully the varsity can look at the scoreboard and see we shut ’em out and that’ll inspire them to do the same thing,” Bailey said.
— Steve Galluzzo
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