PACIFIC PALISADES — No quarterback has been named, the game should have been played at home and Palisades is sporting a new offense and coach.
Santa Monica High head coach Travis Clark should be worried, but the eternally-optimistic sideline boss has confidence that his Vikings should continue their dominance over their Westside football rival to the north as long as his team lives up to its potential.
"They are going to be motivated," Clark said of Pali. "Being a former player, it burns with me. The rivalry has been going for a long time. I look forward to the competition."
Clark's experience in the series as a Samohi player in the late 1980s gives him a personal view of what used to be called the Rotary Bowl, but his intimate knowledge of his team is the real reason he has high hopes despite not knowing who will be starting at quarterback on Friday on the road.
Jordan Detamore started the season opener against Redondo Union last week, but injury and trouble finding receivers gave junior Nico Basile a chance to orchestrate what would become a late rally that culminated in a game-winning field goal off the foot of kicker/linebacker Denicio Gonzalez-Drake that secured the victory. As of today, Clark isn't sure who will start and speculates that both signal callers may see time under center.
Making things more interesting, a scheduling conflict with Santa Monica College over the use of Corsair Field forced Samohi to schedule the game on the road for the second year in a row. Last year wasn't a problem for the Vikings as they dispatched Pali, 53-12.
Because of the scheduling issue, Samohi will only play four home games at Corsair Field this season.
Clark hasn't lost to Pali since taking over the team in 2009 and Samohi insiders believe the Vikings haven't lost to Pali for 12 years.
The game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Palisades High.
daniela@www.smdp.com
