Vikings Extend Streak Against Palisades

The game started just the way that Palisades High football coach Perry Jones wanted, but the way it ended is not quite what he hoped for.

The Dolphins scored first and gave host Santa Monica all it could handle for four quarters, but Palisades was unable to counter the Vikings' quick-strike capability throughout Friday night's 33-15 loss at Santa Monica College.

"Offensively, we did what we wanted for long stretches and controlled the clock," said Jones, in his second year as head coach and third with the program. "We kept them off balance and that first drive let them know they were in a game."

Mylz Blake had only one run in the first half, but when Justin Sinclair sprained his ankle and Eric Jackson was sidelined by an injury in the third quarter, the Dolphins' senior fullback got the bulk of the carries over the final 24 minutes, finishing with 95 yards and one score.

"We're very confident in our running game," said Blake, who missed most of last season with an injury but returned for Palisades' last two playoff games against Poly and Chatsworth. "No matter who gets the ball, we can get the job done."

The Vikings committed eight penalties and did a poor job tackling at times, but there was nothing to criticize about the performance of their senior quarterback Christian Salem. He was hot from the start, connecting on eight of his first 10 passes, and threw touchdown strikes of 85 yards to Kori Garcia and 30 yards to Sebastian Larue.

"I thought he was terrific," Santa Monica Coach Travis Clark said of Salem, who finished 14-of-19 for 267 yards. "I've said all along that he's got all the tools and he's showing it. That's about as efficient as it gets."

The Vikings (2-0) also got a courageous effort from senior linebacker Chris Collins, who was injured in the season opener against Leuzinger and played only sparingly against Palisades. When his number was called and a big play needed, however, Collins delivered.

"It made a big difference not having him in there," Clark admitted. "They were running their offense and moving the ball on us, but I thought we did a nice job inside the 20s."

As impressive as Salem looked, the Vikings' aerial assault was aided by the acrobatics of Larue, who caught nine passes for 205 yards, including his scoring reception in the end zone on a laser beam from Salem that closed out the scoring with 39 seconds left.

"We worked on that play all week in practice," Larue said. "He made a perfect throw and I caught it. We were on the same page all night."

In addition to his touchdown catch, Garcia rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns in nine carries for Santa Monica, which won its eighth straight over the Dolphins and increased its lead to 18-6-2 in the intersectional rivalry that began in 1979.

Palisades (0-2) started as if it might snap the streak, using its triple option to march 78 yards in nine plays, capped by senior halfback Arte' Miura's 15-yard run. Quarterback Nathan Dodson enticed the Vikings into jumping offside three times on the drive.

"Nate [Dodson] pitched me the ball, they didn't have enough guys to match us and Eric [Jackson] threw a perfect block for me," Miura said of his touchdown. "His block was the key to the whole play."

It took the Vikings four plays to answer Palisades' score, with Garcia sprinting 42 yards to paydirt. 

The turning point occurred on the Dolphins' next possession after they drove to Samohi's 5-yard line early in the second quarter. First, Collins recovered a fumble on an errant pitch and the Vikings took over at their 20. Then, on third and long, Salem lofted the ball to Garcia at the last moment and the senior running back caught the screen pass, broke outside and raced 85 yards for a touchdown.

Elliott Stahler added field goals of 31 and 23 yards, the latter as the second-quarter clock expired, and the Vikings entered the locker room with a 19-7 lead. 

"We felt if we couldn't get the option going, we would try throwing it more to loosen up their defense, but we didn't need to do it," Jones said. "What hurt us in the end was not getting more pressure on the quarterback."

After a scoreless third quarter, Palisades drove to the Vikings' 12-yard line but a holding penalty cost the Dolphins 10 yards and Santa Monica held on fourth down, taking over at its own 7. The Vikings proceeded to march 93 yards in eight plays, capped by Garcia's 52-yard burst up the middle.

Blake scored on a 28-yard run and the two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Kevin Acosta to Adrian Romero cut Santa Monica's lead to 26-15 with 6:34 left.

"We really wanted to win and we felt we could take these guys," Blake said. "I did my best. We felt if we're going to go down, we're going to go down with a head of steam."

After forcing a punt, the Dolphins took possession at their 15-yard line. Needing two scores with under one minute remaining, they opted to go for it on fourth-and-two at their own 31, but Santa Monica's defense held.

"I'm glad this one's over and I don't have to think about Palisades for another year," Clark said. "This is one of those games I had circled on my calendar because I knew it'd be tough. I knew they'd be fired up and one of these times they're going to beat us."

Dodson did not complete one of his three passes, the first of which was intercepted along the sideline by Santa Monica cornerback Dylan Muscat in the second quarter. However, the Dolphins had just as many yards rushing (267) as Salem did passing.

"Defensively we had some lapses, but we haven't seen anyone who threw it that well--not in the [City Section] playoffs last year and certainly not last week [at El Camino Real]," Jones said. "We stood toe-to-toe with them all the way. We never let them off the hook, this game was always in jeopardy. We just came up short."

Palisades' schedule only gets harder, as the Dolphins face Encino Crespi in their home opener next Friday at Stadium by the Sea. The Celts are ranked eighth in Southern California by Cal-Hi Sports.  

Score by Quarters

1

2

3

4

Final

Palisades

7

0

0

8

15

Santa Monica

7

12

0

14

33

Scoring Summary

Palisades -- Miura 15 run (Lynch kick), 5:24 left in 1st qtr.

Santa Monica -- Garcia 42 run (Pavon kick), 3:03 left in 1st qtr.

Santa Monica -- Garcia 85 pass from Salem (kick failed), 8:29 left in 2nd qtr.

Santa Monica -- Stahler 31 field goal, 1:07 left in 2nd qtr.

Santa Monica -- Stahler 23 field goal, 0:00 left in 2nd qtr.

Santa Monica  -- Garcia 52 run (Stahler kick), 8:33 left in 4th qtr.

Palisades -- Blake 28 run (Romero pass from Acosta), 6:34 left in 4th qtr.

Santa Monica -- Larue 30 pass from Salem (Stahler kick), 0:39 left in 4th qtr.

Records: Palisades 0-2; Santa Monica 2-0.