The Malibu High School football team scored its fifth consecutive victory of the season Friday against the heavily favored Cardinals of Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School. The final score of the game was 43-14, marking the fourth consecutive game in which the Sharks scored 40 or more points.
With six players sidelined due to injury, Andrew Heric shouldered the offensive burden, gaining 346 yards rushing and scoring four touchdowns as well as playing another strong game on defense. Heric racked up runs of 34, 40 and 70 yards among his 34 carries in the game. Matt Nechak added another impressive effort with several key runs and catches of passes from quarterback Johnny O’Neal. Nechak also led the Sharks defense in shutting down a strong Cardinals running attack. Garret Brizendine had another notable game on both sides of the ball, with an effort that included a touchdown reception.
Duncan Daw and James Hunter made key plays on defense, with Hunter making a leaping deflection of a fourth down pass as a Cardinal drive was stopped at the one-yard line early in the third quarter. O’Neal, Heric and Nechak continued to score hard tackles of opponents’ runners during the game, as one or the entire trio managed to be at the right place to make key plays. Capping the defensive effort was a critical interception of a Cardinals fourth down pass by Brendan Sindell to help seal the victory for the Sharks.
In Friday’s junior varsity contest, the Sharks returned to their winning ways against Cantwell, beating the Cardinals by a score of 33-6. Steven Williams pitched in with a key block and recovery of a Cardinals punt and Tim Sormiento added two touchdowns to his already impressive season stats. Quarterback Miles Booth had another standout performance that included a 45-yard touchdown run.
The Sharks now face what is perhaps the most important game in the short history of the football program as they face heavily favored Chadwick High on Friday afternoon in a 2:30 p.m. varsity contest at Malibu High. With the Sharks owning a 5-1 record this season, they confront the prospect of having their first winning season ever and returning to the postseason playoffs. The 4-1 junior varsity’s game will be played on Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m., also against Chadwick.