The Malibu High School varsity football team made history with a 56-14 win over Daniel Murphy on Friday. The Sharks broke the school’s single game point record, previously 55, as well as the record for the highest margin of victory. The win brings Malibu’s record to 3-2 in pre-league play.
“It feels great,” head coach Ray Humphrey said after the game. “They earned it, and they fought hard, especially after a close win last week”
The Sharks scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, with the first one coming on a run by tailback Sean Conrad, following a long kick-off return by Graham Ellis. After regaining possession of the ball when Daniel Murphy was unable to convert a first down, a screen pass to Conrad and his subsequent 7-yard run put Malibu up 14-0. An unintentional onside kick by Johnny Palmer followed, giving the ball back to Malibu. Running back Derek Cooley then scored his first touchdown of the season on a 12-yard run.
The Sharks’ defense took over in the second quarter. Marcus Robbins got two sacks and Mitchell Rathner got another, forcing the Nobles to punt. With superb blocking to help him, quarterback J.P. O’Fallon returned the punt 70 yards for a touchdown. After the kickoff, the Sharks’ defense took over again, and recovered a fumble on the one-yard line, allowing O’Fallon to simply step into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night and to bring Malibu up 35-0. The Sharks scored again before halftime to extend their commanding lead.
The Nobles opened the second half with the ball, but were unable to get a first down. Malibu’s possession that followed included a 27-yard touchdown run by Conrad. The Nobles then drove to the 10-yard line, where, surviving a near interception and recovered fumble, they scored their first points of the night. A missed two-point conversion attempt made the score 47-6.
Opening the fourth quarter up by 41 points, the Sharks experimented by putting their players in at different positions. Linemen Rathner and Robbins were put in at running back and fullback, respectively. On the first play, Rathner broke through for a 49-yard touchdown with Noble defenders helplessly trailing him, putting the Sharks up 56-6. However, the Nobles did not give up, and were able to score on a long kickoff return, followed by a two-point conversion.
Both O’Fallon and Conrad had career games, with three touchdowns apiece. Rathner had an astounding game, with key tackles for losses and his 49-yard touchdown, as did kicker Johnny Palmer, who went 8-for-8 on extra-point kicks. The entire team contributed to the historic victory.
“I think we had a much better week in practice, and the guys were more focused and it carried over into the game,” Humphrey said.
The Sharks have their first league game on Friday at 7 p.m., at home against Santa Clara.