The Palisades comeback continues.
The Dolphins held on for a 35–18 Western League victory over the Hamilton Yankees Friday night at Stadium by the Sea.
With the win, they improve to 4-3 on the season.
Jameson Della-Bella scored twice on the ground, Robert Holohan III added touchdowns through the air and on a keeper, and Malachi Ross supplied two returns that helped Palisades take control after halftime.
The defense gave the Dolphins their first opportunity, stopping Hamilton on fourth down near midfield on the Yankees’ opening possession. Aiden Jones finished the ensuing drive with a touchdown run, and Amadeus Ayanbedejo added the extra point.
A failed Hamilton punt later in the first quarter left Palisades with the ball near the Yankees’ 8-yard line. Della-Bella ran it in to help extend the lead to 14–0.
Hamilton had little room to recover in the second quarter. D’Mari Smith and Aidan Wilson-Turner each intercepted a pass, and Della-Bella scored his second rushing touchdown to give the Dolphins a 21–0 halftime lead.
Ross helped turn that advantage into a five-touchdown margin after the break.
His approximately 50-yard kickoff return set up Holohan’s touchdown pass to Go Moriya. After Hamilton went three-and-out, Ross returned a punt approximately 20 yards, giving Palisades another short field. Holohan scored on a keeper, and the Dolphins led 35–0 with 7:57 remaining in the third quarter.
Hamilton began to answer late in the period. A successful fake punt extended a possession, and sophomore QB Thaddeus Breaux found Le’kai Morgan on a short touchdown pass to put the Yankees on the scoreboard.
Breaux connected with Kendal Milton for another touchdown with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter. A nearly 40-yard completion to Shelton Harrison later helped set up a scoring pass to Kristian Leslie with 3:47 remaining.
The Yankees had scored 18 unanswered points and cut the lead to 35–18. They then recovered the onside kick at the Palisades 47-yard line, giving Hamilton another chance to keep the comeback going.
Palisades ultimately regained possession, and Holohan took a knee to run out the clock.
The Dolphins had done enough early to withstand Hamilton’s late push. The two interceptions helped keep the Yankees scoreless before halftime, Della-Bella supplied two of Palisades’ three first-half touchdowns, and Ross’ returns helped the offense add two more after the break.
Breaux’s three touchdown passes made the finish closer, but Hamilton could not erase the lead Palisades had built.
Della-Bella was impressive in his homecoming game debut, giving Palisades another player for opponents to account for. The Dolphins continue to show their depth across the lineup, with a different athlete stepping forward each week.
Palisades will look to continue the positive momentum with its final away game October 23 at Fairfax.