The Malibu High School football teams traveled to Palos Verdes last week to take on the Dolphins of Chadwick. Despite the continued improvement and strong play by both the varsity and junior varsity squads, the Malibu teams were unable to secure victories in their contests.
In Saturday’s varsity game, the Sharks of Malibu jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead as Chris Lefotu caught a perfectly executed screen pass for a 40-yard gain. Lefotu finished off the drive with a punishing 7-yard run, knocking over several would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone.
While the Sharks’ offense sputtered for the rest of the game, the Malibu defensive squad showed strong play, stopping the powerful Chadwick running game on all but two plays.
At the beginning of the second half, a lapse by Malibu allowed a 65-yard touchdown run by the Dolphins’ quarterback on the first play from scrimmage. Chadwick tacked on another touchdown as the third quarter was winding down, to take a 14-7 lead.
That score held up as Chadwick held on to the victory.
In Thursday’s junior varsity game, Malibu lost a close game by a score of 20-18. The Sharks took the lead at 18-13 with about four minutes left in the game. However, on the ensuing kickoff, Chadwick returned the kick for a touchdown.
Malibu was able to move the ball downfield and looked as though they might score a touchdown as time wound down, but the Sharks were unable to convert a fourth and one play with two minutes left in the game.
The Sharks play at home on Saturday against Webb. The junior varsity team kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m., with the varsity team to play at 2 p.m.