Palisades understood the assignment: establish control early, take care of business and turn attention toward the postseason.
The Dolphins delivered on all three, closing their 2026 regular season Friday night with a decisive 38–0 shutout of Westchester at Stadium by the Sea.
Palisades wasted little time establishing its advantage. Quarterback Robert Holohan III opened the scoring with a six-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion that opened up an early 8–0 lead.
The Palisades defense and special teams quickly created another opportunity, forcing Westchester to punt from deep in its own territory. The Dolphins took over at the Comets’ 21-yard line, where Aiden Jones broke through for a 21-yard rushing touchdown. Amadeus Ayanbedejo converted the extra point to extend the lead to 15–0.
Holohan added to the first-quarter surge, connecting with junior wide receiver Randy Garcia on an approximately 30-yard touchdown pass. Another successful extra point gave the Dolphins a commanding 22–0 advantage entering the second quarter.
Westchester found some offensive momentum in the second quarter, aided by roughing-the-passer penalties against Palisades. But the Dolphins’ defense kept the Comets off the scoreboard, preserving the 22-point halftime lead.
Palisades resumed control after the break. LJ Stephens capped the Dolphins’ opening second-half possession with a 20-yard touchdown run, and Ayanbedejo’s extra point pushed the advantage to 29–0.
Special teams then helped produce one of the night’s defining defensive moments.
Late in the third quarter, Ayanbedejo delivered a precisely placed kickoff that pinned Westchester near its own one-yard line. The Palisades defense capitalized at the start of the fourth quarter, recording a safety to extend the lead to 31–0.
Holohan added the final touchdown of the evening, recovering a fumble and carrying it into the end zone with approximately two minutes remaining. Ayanbedejo’s extra point completed the scoring at 38–0.
The shutout reflected a balanced performance across all three phases of the game. Holohan contributed touchdowns as a runner, passer and fumble-recovery scorer, while Jones and Stephens supplied additional production on the ground. Ayanbedejo’s kicking helped control field position, and the defense prevented Westchester from finding the end zone.
For Palisades, Senior Night wasn’t about creating one final dramatic regular-season moment. The Dolphins had a simpler objective: get ahead, finish the job and prepare for what comes next.
With a 38–0 shutout, they accomplished exactly that.
Now, attention turns to the postseason.
Photo: Mariana Flynn @Barnburnershots
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