The Sharks will take on Blair High School on Friday in the first round of the playoffs. This is the team’s third time in the postseason. The Sharks have never won a playoff game.
By Sam Rubinroit / Special to The Malibu Times
The Malibu High School varsity football team capped off the exciting homecoming festivities on Friday with a 48-14 win over the Animo Leadership Aztec Eagles. The Sharks looked strong, coming off of their last game, a 20-14 win over Villanova Prep, which had clinched Malibu a spot in the playoffs. The win over Animo Leadership marked the Sharks’ last game of the regular season, and was a high point for Senior Night, which the Sharks obviously took to heart.
Malibu did not break stride when the team lost starting tailback Sean Conrad early in the game to a knee injury. Junior Derek Cooley stepped up with two touchdown runs for the Sharks.
Malibu has been led all season by quarterback J.P. O’Fallon. And he put on an extra-special show Friday, performing like a never-ending highlight reel with five touchdowns on the night. The first came on a 61-yard run by O’Fallon when Conrad stepped in at quarterback, followed by another score on a 17-yard run. O’Fallon’s third touchdown of the night came on a 28-yard run, his fourth on 59-yard run and his last on an spectacular 54-yard run.
O’Fallon was one of the seniors honored for Senior Night. Among the others were prom king Marcus Robbins and royal court member Mitchell Rathner. Robbins played a strong game, with a blocked punt that led to a touchdown, as well as numerous tackles on defense.
Another senior honored Friday was wide receiver Graham Ellis, who served as one of the team captains, and finished the game with an interception. Other seniors contributing to the victory were Sean Boylan, Milo Gibson, Brent Wonnacott and Charles Vines. “Those seniors have given us a lot, and it’s been awesome,” said Head Coach Ray Humphrey. After the game, co-captain Milo Gibson asked the seniors to take a moment to cherish their last game victory at home for Malibu.
The Malibu Sharks literally made school history this season, breaking records and establishing new ones in their place. With the victory and a record of 6-4 overall, the Sharks earned only the second winning record in school history. Earlier in the season, they set the single game point record with a win over Daniel Murphy, 56-14, which also established their largest margin of victory. If the Sharks are able to defeat Blair High School on Friday, they will also gain the first playoff win in school history.
“No one thought we could do what we have done,” said Humphrey. Going into the playoffs, Coach Humphrey is confident, but admits that, “We have to work on the mistakes; all of the little mistakes like jumping off-sides, holding and stuff like that. We’re a pretty good team and we’ve got a lot of things in place, but we’ve just got to keep healthy and work on the little mistakes.”
The Sharks go on to face Blair High School in the first round of the playoffs. Since it is a playoff game, the Sharks will face Blair at Pasadena City College, a neutral location, at 7 p.m. on Friday in their quest into the post season.