Jones, Chatsworth Start Fast in 23-0 Victory Over Palisades

Junior tailback Marlon Jones made the most of his first starting opportunity, rushing for 154 yards in 17 carries and scoring two touchdowns to lead Chatsworth High to a 23-0 victory over Palisades in a nonleague opener Friday night at Chatsworth.

Jones’ second touchdown was an 84-yard run down the left sideline with 52 seconds left in the first half to give the Chancellors a 20-0 halftime lead. He earlier scored on a three-yard run in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

“I wasn’t sure I was even going to start,” Jones said. “I missed a practice or two and didn’t know until just before the game. I figured I better step up and make the most of it.”

The 84-yard run gave Jones 119 yards in nine first-half carries.

Quarterback Aaron Hummel helped balance the Chatsworth attack, completing seven of 15 passes for 132 yards. He connected with wide receiver Aristol Melchor on a 17-yard pass for the initial touchdown late in the first quarter.

Melchor was the leading receiver for Chatsworth with three receptions for 52 yards. Wide receiver Jorge Buery had two receptions for 54 yards, including a third-quarter bomb good for 45 yards.

Palisades quarterback Chris Kasteler, surrounded by first-year starters, completed only four of 16 passes for 42 yards. Chatsworth defensive back Patrick Murphy picked off a pass by Kasteler in the third quarter.

Lonnie Landry led the Dolphins with 39 yards in eight rushes.

“We have a real young team and they made some mistakes,” Palisades Coach Russ Howard said. “Chatsworth played a good game and they made fewer fundamental mistakes for the first game.”