The third time was not a charm.
The Palisades Dolphins appeared to have control Thursday night (September 3) at John Elway Stadium, taking a 10-point advantage into halftime before the Granada Hills Highlanders turned the game around with an aggressive special-teams gamble and a relentless second-half rushing attack.
The Highlanders erased a 16-6 halftime deficit and held off a late Palisades comeback to win 28-23.
Palisades quarterback Robert Holohan III helped the Dolphins establish themselves early, connecting with wide receiver Malachi Ross for a first-quarter touchdown with 8:20 remaining. Palisades led 7-6 after one, then added a defensive safety early in the second quarter. Holohan added to the lead with a touchdown run with 34 seconds left in the half, and the extra point gave Palisades a 16-6 advantage at halftime.
But the momentum shifted quickly after the break.
Granada Hills scored on a quarterback keeper with 7:19 left in the third, then converted a two-point try to pull within 16-14. Instead of kicking deep, the Highlanders successfully executed an onside kick, recovering at the Palisades 35.
That sequence proved decisive. Granada Hills running back Myles Cross capped the ensuing possession with a rushing touchdown with 3:09 left in the third to put Granada ahead, 20-16.
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Palisades had an immediate chance to respond when Ross returned the ensuing kickoff about 60 yards, setting the Dolphins up deep in Granada territory. But the drive stalled inside the 10, and a personal foul preceded a failed fourth down at the six as the quarter ended.
Granada kept the ball on the ground in the fourth quarter, and Cross struck again with his second rushing touchdown with 3:07 remaining. A two-point conversion pushed the lead to 28-16.
Palisades answered when running back LJ Stephens found the end zone in the final minutes, and the extra point cut the deficit to 28-23 with just over two minutes left.
Palisades’ onside kick attempt failed, but the defense gave the offense one last chance, forcing a turnover on downs with 1:17 to play. On the final drive, Cross sealed the outcome with an interception with about a minute remaining, allowing Granada Hills to run out the clock.
After trailing 16-6 at the half, Granada Hills scored 22 unanswered points before withstanding a late Palisades rally. The turning point came with the onside kick early in the third quarter, which flipped both field position and momentum, with Cross’s two rushing touchdowns and late interception defining the finish.
The Dolphins will try once again to get in the win column when they host the Brentwood Eagles on September 11 at Stadium by the Sea.
Photos & reporting by 3D Athletics Media