With lightning flashing toward downtown Los Angeles and a light drizzle falling over Fairfax, Friday night’s Western League matchup unfolded like a prizefight.
Tru Warrior Casas delivered the body blows for the Lions, repeatedly breaking loose on the ground. Palisades worked the body with Jamison DellaBella and Aiden Jones, then went over the top behind Robert Holohan III‘s four touchdown passes to earn a 49-35 decision. The Dolphins improved to 5-3 overall and 4-0 in league play.
The score was tied 7-7 after the first quarter and Palisades carried a 21-14 lead into halftime, but neither side could create lasting separation. Holohan directed the most balanced and resilient offensive performance of Palisades’ season, extending plays with his legs and repeatedly finding the open receiver whenever Fairfax threatened to seize momentum. Jesse Wolfson caught two of his scoring passes, Malachi Ross added another and Aiden Gecovich hauled in the fourth. DellaBella scored twice on the ground, while Jones added a rushing touchdown of his own.
Fairfax stayed within striking distance behind senior Casas, whose explosive running turned routine plays into immediate scoring threats. Casas scored four rushing touchdowns, including runs of roughly 50 and 80 yards in the second half. Each time the Lions closed the gap, however, Palisades responded with a composed drive of its own.
The back-and-forth rhythm sharpened late in the third quarter. Casas broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown with 5:30 remaining, pulling Fairfax within 28-21 after the extra point. Holohan then moved the Dolphins with short throws over the middle before escaping for more than 30 yards to push Palisades into the red zone. He finished the possession by finding Wolfson for a touchdown, restoring a 35-21 advantage with 3:50 left in the quarter.
Fairfax opened the fourth quarter with a 30-yard touchdown pass and cut the margin to 35-28 with 11:54 remaining. Palisades answered almost immediately. A 43-yard completion carried the Dolphins to the Fairfax 17, and DellaBella took it the rest of the way for a touchdown. The extra point made it 42-28 with 9:37 to play.
Only 17 seconds later, Casas burst through the Palisades defense for an approximately 80-yard touchdown. The conversion brought Fairfax back within one score at 42-35 and placed the pressure squarely on the Dolphins’ offense.
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What followed was the defining sequence of the night. Starting at its own 22, Palisades assembled a patient 78-yard drive built on short completions, DellaBella’s hard running and Holohan’s ability to create time with his feet. A facemask penalty moved the ball to the Fairfax 15. Holohan then scrambled for nine yards, and an offsides penalty gave the Dolphins first-and-goal. On the scoring play, Holohan connected with Gecovich for a seven-yard touchdown. The drive consumed more than six minutes and stretched the lead to 49-35 with 2:58 remaining.
Palisades closed the door on the ensuing kickoff. Fairfax lost the ball on the return, and freshman Michael Brown recovered near midfield. With 35 seconds left, Holohan took a knee and the Dolphins left Fairfax with a hard-earned road win.
The victory kept Palisades perfect in Western League play and demonstrated that the Dolphins can win a high-scoring game in several ways. Holohan supplied the passing, DellaBella helped control the ground game, and the offense delivered its longest and most important possession when Fairfax had made the game a one-score contest.
Photo: Mariana Flynn @Barnburnershots
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