PaliHi Football Trounces University High School, 35-14

The Palisades High School football team, now 5-1 for the season, defeated University High School, 35-14, to open Western League playFriday night, Oct. 7.

The Dolphins travel to Hamilton High School on Oct. 14. Westchester High School walloped Hamilton, 56-14, and Venice High School beat Fairfax High School, 27-11, in other league openers.

“I’m excited for the Hamilton game next week,” said senior quarterback Jonah Manheim, who guided a powerful running attack.

Tailback Innocent Okoh scored the game’s first touchdown six minutes into the game, and accounted for three more TDs. Marrio Lofton ran for the final goal, and Jake Taitleman kicked all five PATs.

PaliHi’s defense caused numerous turnovers, including a fumble recovered by senior defensive tackle Jimmy Vaatete Reyes. “I could have scooped it up and run with it,” he said. “But I made a careful move, because I wanted to protect it first.”

Manheim, who started the season at tight end, was converted to quarterback when starter Gabriel Galef was injured in the season opener.

“I had no varsity quarterback experience,” Manheim said, “but I knew I had to handle business.” He was the JV quarterback his freshman and sophomore years, but switched to tight end last season when he moved up to varsity. PJ Hurst, who’s now a defensive back at Tulane, had the quarterback position locked up.

Galef returned for several plays last Friday, and the Dolphins now have a third contender for the starting job at quarterback: sophomore Tommy Beattie, who transferred from Notre Dame to Pali this year and had to sit out the first five games because of CIF regulations, who was in for a few plays on

Will Manheim continue in his current role? He admits he likes playing quarterback, but “I’ll do whatever the coaches want me to do,” he said.

Happy with yet another Dolphin victory, Hyde was nevertheless upset by his team’s numerous penalties, including three face-mask penalties during one of Hamilton’s touchdown drives.

“Every play matters,” he told the News. “There were 10 to 12, 15-yard penalties. For what reason?” And he answered, “It’s a lack of focus. They have to respect the game because everything matters.”