Venice Can’t Stop Palisades’ Koral

David Koral and Anton Clarkson knew what the people wanted to see Friday night and they didn’t disappoint.

The senior quarterbacks from Palisades and Venice combined to throw for 644 yards and 10 touchdowns in an offensive display that had the scoreboard working overtime and defensive players spinning.

But to determine a winner, bad things must occur and one team must take advantage of them. Palisades did just that in outlasting the Gondoliers, 55-32, in a Western League game for first place at Venice.

Those bad things were five Venice turnovers that kept the Gondoliers from gaining control of the game. Palisades turned two fumbles into 13 second-quarter points that helped it forge a 20-point lead, and the Dolphins kept Venice at arm’s length.

Koral threw three of his six scoring passes in the first half, including a 36-yarder to Charles Ealy to give the Dolphins a 27-7 lead. Venice never got closer than eight.

“If you give our offense an easy field to play on, we’re going to score,” said Koral, who threw for 764 yards against Grant earlier this season to set a national high school single-game passing record.

Venice first-year Coach Angelo Gasca said the mistakes were the difference.

“You just can’t spot them that many points and come back from that,” Gasca said. “That offense is only going to stop itself. You can’t stop them.”

Koral attempted only 17 passes but completed 12 of them for 310 yards. Ealy caught four for 88 yards and three touchdowns, while Greig Carlson had three receptions for 123 yards and two scores.

Clarkson was admirable in defeat. He threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns but also threw two late interceptions.

Anthony Soto caught five passes for 158 yards and a touchdown and Ryan Vickers caught three for 125 yards and a score.

“You knew it was going to be a shootout,” Koral said.

Clarkson cut into the Dolphins’ lead by running 27 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 27-13 with 28 seconds left in the half.

Any momentum Venice gained from that play quickly dissipated after the intermission. Koral connected with Carlson on a perfectly thrown pass over the middle for a 62-yard touchdown on the first play of the third quarter.

But Palisades (5-1, 3-0) did its best to keep the Gondoliers (4-2, 2-1) within reach. A fumble recovery by Geoff Parker and an interception thrown by Koral on its next two possessions gave Venice an opening.

Clarkson took full advantage as he capitalized on the fumble with a 28-yard scoring pass to Soto. After Robert Madrid picked off Koral, the senior quarterback cut the Dolphins’ lead to 34-26 with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Vickers.

Just 24 seconds later, Koral threw his fourth scoring pass, a 37-yarder to Ealy.

Vickers’ 45-yard score pulled the Gondoliers within 41-32. Just 42 seconds later, Carlson scored on a 35-yard pass.