PALIHI FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Coaches Expect Forward Progress

Ever since practice began exactly one month ago, Palisades High coaches and players have sought to erase the memory of last season when the Dolphins set a school record for losses. That was then, this is now and the focus is on moving forward, not reliving the past. “We are young and inexperienced, but we’re stronger, faster, and more talented,” said second-year Head Coach Leo Castro, whose team finished 1-9 and dead last in the Western League a year ago. “We’re deeply motivated to succeed and our goal is to make the playoffs.” A postseason berth would appear to be a tall task with so many new names on the roster and the graduation of key starters, including quarterback and kicker Dylan Cohen (who won the Post Cup Award last spring as Pali’s outstanding senior athlete), receptions leader Brandon Bryant, offensive lineman Justin Page, tailback Anthony Anaebere and defensive captain Dave Villalobos. Several other players transferred to other schools, including last season’s leading rusher Andre Harris (Taft), promising receiver Javon Crowder (Crenshaw), and brothers Donovan and Nicholas Blount (Cathedral). Replacing Cohen at quarterback will be junior Raymond Elie, who made first-team All League on frosh/soph last year. Backing up Elie will be Robert Gillett, who started several games when Cohen was injured last season. “The plays are the same but varsity is definitely a different level in terms of strength and speed,” said Elie, who lives down the street from the USC campus. “I’ll be looking to pass first but if the line collapses I’ll use my second instinct and run. And when I take off, I’ll score. No one’s going to catch me.” Elie’s bravado is shared by senior wide receiver and free safety Ryan Henry, who points to the Dolphins’ improved conditioning as a key to improving their record. “We started preparing much earlier this year,” hHenry said. “We went to seven-on-seven leagues at the beginning of the summer, we’ve been in the weight room since and the coaches have been much stricter about getting us in shape. Our focus during practice has been on conditioning, tackling and special teams.” Much of Castro’s staff is the same. His son, Aaronn, returns as offensive coordinator and Carter Austin returns as running backs coach. Ed Weans will be the defensive coordinator, Jujuan Atkins will work with the defensive backs and Ron Cuccia is the quarterback consultant. “I’m really high on Raymond because he is a triple-threat kind of quarterback who can run, throw or hand off, so he’s going to give the defense problems,” Castro said. “On top of that, he’s left-handed. He and Gillett competed for the starting spot all summer, so both got better in the process.” Only 35 players suited up on varsity last season and the Dolphins figure to dress even less this year, meaning several starters, Henry included, will have to play both offense and defense. “Our numbers are way down,” Castro said. “We may only have about 30 players on varsity and 18 or 19 of those will be juniors. So we’re an extremely young team.” Anchoring the front lines will be 6-7, 275-pound junior Mitchell Schwartz, an honorable mention All-League choice last season. “We’re looking good,” said Schwartz, whose older brother, Geoff, is now the starting offensive tackle at Oregon. “The team is much more enthusiastic and our camaraderie is way better than last year.” Up from the frosh/soph squad are tackle Marsden Burton (6-2, 340), center Josh Brookhim (6-0, 180) and linebacker Julian Portugal-Gooden (6-0, 205). Castro described senior offensive guard/defensive end Christian Clark (6-3, 240) as a “pleasant surprise” while linebacker Henry Argueta and offensive guard/defensive tackle Evan Lambkins (6-1, 235) will provide stability up the middle. Gillett, second-team All-League last year, will double at linebacker and free safety. Billy Ortman and Ryan Lebowitz will play linebacker, Shane Brando will play guard and tackle and D’Kylo Forman will be an offensive and defensive tackle. On offense, seniors Marquise Coleman and Gillett will be the work horses at running back, assisted by fullbacks Michael Anderson and Cesar Amaya and tailbacks Jonathan Aghachi and Anthony Yarborough. “I actually prefer to play defense but I like being on the field every play,” Gillett said. “Our backfield will be balanced and we’re more accustomed to the coaches and what they expect. I think we’ll start this season much more prepared than we were going into last year.” Wideouts will include Herbert Smith, Julian Harris, Dajuan Cofield, Travis deZarn, Sudsy Dyke, Christopher Henderson and Michael Cissel and Colin Vining. Alphanso Gray, Deonte Baker and Portugal-Gooden will rotate at tight end. Cohen’s placekicking and punting successor will be senior Esteban Moreno, who booted a 38-yard field goal two years ago in his first game on the frosh/soph team. “I’m pretty accurate from 35 yards and in,” Moreno said. “My longest in practice is a 48-yarder. I just hope I can be reliable when the pressure’s on.” Unlike last season, Castro is not reluctant to start juniors over seniors. In fact, the Dolphins will start eight juniors on offense and six on defense. “We’re going with the kids who we’ve coached and taught and know our system,” Castro said. “Last year, we gave the seniors the benefit of the doubt and, in many cases, it hurt us. This time, we’re going with the guys we know will stay eligible and who know the plays we want to run.” One factor that could help the Dolphins improve on last year’s record is their schedule. Seven of Palisades’ 10 games will be at Stadium by the Sea, including its annual showdowns with league rivals Venice and Westchester. However, Los Angeles, the team the Dolphins beat last year, has been replaced by Invitational finalist South Gate, which returns Daniel Kozasky, one of the top quarterbacks in the City Section. By far the Dolphins’ toughest test will be Sylmar in next Friday night’s opener. The Spartans possess one of the most highly-touted running backs in the nation, C.J. Gable, who burned Pali for two long runs in Sylmar’s 25-10 victory last season. “There are no pushovers in our league anymore,” line coach George Burns said. “Five years ago you could count on one or two wins every year just by showing up but that is no longer the case. We’re gonna’ have to fight like heck to win every game.” Pali’s players seem ready for the challenge. “We’re pretty confident,” Baker said. “We’re looking forward to coming out strong and starting the season off right. I think a lot of teams are going to overlook us because of last year, but we’re a different team and we’re going to surprise people.” Frosh/Soph Despite having only four returning starters, second-year coach Calvin Parker is optimistic that his team can improve on last season’s 2-7-1 mark. “We will most definitely be better,” said Parker, who will be assisted by defensive coordinator Kelly Loftus and special teams coach Al Heath. “I think we have a better attitude this year, better chemistry. If we execute the way I know we can, we can win eight or nine games this year.” Sophomore Alan Ferguson will start at quarterback while fellow 10th-graders Lazzarian Rankin (fullback), Vorsper Aiwize (tailback) and Miles Nelson (tailback), a transfer from Westchester, will handle the ball carrying duties along with freshman Justin Sawai. Returners Milton Strausberg and Adam Cristiano will anchor the receiving corp while freshman Brandon Omar will be a factor on the offensive and defensive lines. Another key will be the continued inprovement of sophomore center Alejandro Medrano. “We haven’t fumbled a snap since he took over in the fifth game last year,” Parker said of Medrano. “He’ll be a key on offense and the front seven will be the key on defense. We need to have good pursuit and get more helmets on the ball.”