Palisades needed one more stop, one more drive and one more big play Friday night. The Dolphins got all three, rallying in the closing minutes to defeat Venice 29-26 in a dramatic Western League opener.
While the winning points came from the offense, Palisades’ defense kept the Dolphins within striking distance throughout the night. The unit repeatedly turned away Venice threats, including a critical interception late in the second quarter that preserved a 14-6 halftime lead. Defensive lineman Chean Flowers was a disruptive presence throughout the game as Palisades battled to keep Venice from taking control.
The Dolphins built their first-half advantage behind quarterback Robert Holohan III. He scored on a short quarterback run in the first quarter and later connected with No. 10 for a touchdown with 4:44 remaining in the second. Malachi Ross also supplied one of the half’s biggest offensive plays, hauling in a roughly 40-yard Holohan completion that helped set up Palisades deep in Venice territory.
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Venice immediately changed the complexion of the game after halftime. An approximately 80-yard kickoff return put the Gondoliers near the Palisades goal line, and Benny Moreno scored moments later to cut the Dolphins’ advantage to 14-13. Ross answered on special teams later in the quarter with a roughly 25-yard punt return that again gave Palisades favorable field position.
The fourth quarter became a back-and-forth fight. Jordan Caceres caught a Venice touchdown with 8:39 remaining, giving the Gondoliers a 19-14 lead after the ensuing two-point attempt failed. Palisades responded to regain the lead, but Venice struck again and carried a 26-22 advantage into the closing minutes.
That left Holohan and the Palisades offense with one final opportunity. Facing a four-point deficit, Holohan connected with Ross on a 40-yard strike during the decisive possession, pushing the Dolphins deep into Venice territory and setting the stage for the game-winning score. Palisades completed the comeback to take a 29-26 victory.
For Palisades, the finish was the payoff for a defense that kept the game within reach long enough for the offense to deliver. The victory also gave the Dolphins their second consecutive win following a four-overtime victory over Brentwood and opened Western League play with a win.
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Photo: The Palisades Dolphins celebrate after an exciting win over Venice on October 2. | Mariana Flynn @barnburnershots
