Five games into the regular season, Malibu High School football coach Ray Humphrey is convinced of one thing. The 3-2 team is the most skilled Sharks team he has coached.
“This is probably the most talented from top to bottom team I have had since I have been at Malibu,” said Humphrey, who has been the Sharks’ head coach for a decade.
With five games left in the 10-game regular season schedule, the Sharks are hoping to navigate to their second playoff berth in three years after going winless during the 2013 season.
Humphrey described the 2014 squad as much more different from last year.
“They are a lot more positive,” he said. “These guys really want to get out there and win some games for themselves and the community.”
After last year’s disheartening 0-10 campaign, the Sharks entered the 2014 season with a new attitude, said Humphrey.
“Obviously we have some very talented players,” he said. “We were very young and inexperienced last year, but what a difference a year makes. The guys have just been putting in the time …. they are very dedicated and motivated to do well.”
The Sharks have dominating wins over Santa Clarita Christian and Santa Clara High Schools so far, along with a forfeited win over Ribet Academy. The losses have come against St. Monica and Saddleback Valley Christian High Schools
Going into their Oct. 10 game at Santa Paula High School in Santa Paula, Humphrey believes his gridiron squad might be hitting its stride due to a few players coming back from injury, the eligibility of two transfers being instated and the improving health of a senior leader.
Junior wide receiver Indiana McAlpine is expected to play against the 2-3 Cardinals after missing one game due to a cracked rib, which he suffered during a 14-7 loss to Saddleback Valley Christian on Sept. 12. In the season’s first three games, the explosive receiver has caught 16 passes for 291 years and two touchdowns.
Senior lineman Austin George and junior wide receiver and defensive back Ramsey Casillas are also returning from injuries this week. George is recovering from a groin injury and Casillas is bouncing back from a knee sprain.
Also this week, senior wide receiver and defensive back Jordan Newt and JC Heckman are eligible to play. The two transfers sat out the number of the games required after transferring and Humphrey expects them to contribute to the Sharks’ success the second half of the season.
“They have been practicing with us,” he said. “They are good players. Expect them to jump in there and contribute right away.”
After struggling with a high ankle sprain most of the season, senior fullback Matthew Vincent stepped into the backfield and led Malibu to a 17-0 victory over Santa Clara on Oct. 2, running the ball 17 times for one touchdown. Vincent has also contributed to the Sharks on defense, racking up 13 solo tackles and 25 total tackles this season.
“I give the kid credit, ‘He said put me on the line coach, I just want to get the W,’” said Humphrey about Vincent. “That says a lot about his character.”
Humphrey said having Vincent back to running the ball will be key to the Sharks success, and pairing him with senior running back Justin Baldinger, who has run for 278 yards this season, gives Sharks’ two ball threats to pair with a passing game directed by quarterback Nico Basile, who has passed for more than 500 yards this season.
While the offense will have multiple threats in Baldinger, leading receiver McAlpine and Vincent, Humphrey said the Sharks’ defense, which features multiple players that star on offense, is solid.
“We have to continue to tackle and hit, but defense has kept us in games,” he said. “That’s the reason why you don’t see any real big margins on the losses. They have been close games, because of our defense. The crazy thing is that it is all the same guys that are on offense. I guess they are picking their poison.”
The Sharks’ defense has harassed opposing quarterbacks this season and tallied nine sacks and five interceptions. Vincent leads the team in total tackles and is tied with senior linebacker Winston Churchill with the number of individual tackles. Junior linebacker Alec Stevenson has 12 solo tackles.
“He brings that toughness we need on defense,” said Humphrey of Stevenson.
The game against Santa Paula starts a three-game road trip for the Sharks. They will play Grace Brethren High School at Moorpark College in Simi Valley on Oct. 17, then travel to Oxnard to play Santa Clara again on Oct. 24. The Sharks close out the season with home contests against Santa Paula on Oct. 31 and Grace Brethren on Nov. 7. All of the contests are Frontier League games.
Humphrey said now that the Sharks are playing conference games the team is more excited.
“League is definitely a place you want to do well,” he said. “It’s going to be fun to watch.”