After losing so much in the wildfires that destroyed much of the school and the surrounding community, Pali’s varsity football team is undefeated, a word that captures both the team’s win-loss record and its spirit.
The Dolphins (10-0) earned the right to face the Garfield Bulldogs in the first round of the City playoffs by closing the season with victories over two Western League rivals.
Pali’s Homecoming game, the second and final home contest of the season, took place on Thursday, Oct. 17 at Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Corsair Field.
The Dolphins (10-0) defeated the University High Wildcats, 19-17, extending their undefeated streak. The team closed the season with a 40-33 victory over Fairfax at Sofi Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Senior Jack Thomas, captain of the Varsity Football team and quarterback, noted that despite the coined phrase of it being a “home” game, the playing location off-campus presented challenges for graduating seniors hoping to fully immerse themselves in the final throngs of school spirit within the Pali football season.
“It’s unfortunate,” Thomas said, “but you have to control the controllable, and you can’t control your community burning down, but you can control how you play. That’s what we did and that’s all that matters.”
For senior Baran Nasiri, a four –year member of the Associated Student Body (ASB), the support of fellow students helped maintain the feeling of nostalgia.
“We had over 1,500 students in attendance,” Nasiri said. “With everybody being together, it made it feel like home, because that’s what Pali is: the connections and the people that make it up.”
Nasiri is also a member of the Varsity cheer team and reflected on this being her last game as a sideline cheerleader.
“Honestly, it didn’t really hit me until we were on the field… and I was feeling what it was like to come to an end… it was very emotional,” Nasiri said.
Senior Yamato Yukimoto, a photographer for Pali’s yearbook, Surf, shared how his attendance at the games led to the development of relationships with the players.
“Whenever I take photos, it’s more how much emotion I can capture, rather than the action,” Yukimoto said. “Being able to connect with these football players… I finally got hit with how much I’m gonna miss these kids that I’ve spent so much time with.”
The game also served as a moment of reflection for the seniors that had played and performed at numerous games throughout their high school years.
“When I first joined the [cheer] team freshman year, I was really nervous to do the performances and put myself out there in front of the crowd,” Nasiri said. “But at this last homecoming game… one of my friends asked me how I felt… and I was just so excited.”
When looking back on his football journey, Thomas remarked on the unique combination of players that had made it that much more memorable.
“The interactions with many different people from many different places all coming together to play football forms a really good brotherhood and bond,” Thomas said.
The game also featured a homecoming proposal for Nasiri, executed by her boyfriend, senior Rostin Borna.
“He had been planning it for over a month…we were on the field and the ASB students were holding posters that spelled out ‘Homecoming,’” Nasari said.“My cheer team was cheering me on and then they ran to hug me… it was the epitome of high school.”
She concluded how the game not only brought up nostalgia but also emotional goodbyes for the graduating class of 2026.
“This game felt like the first of many high school lasts,” Nasiri said.
