Despite exceptional performances by key players, the Malibu High School football teams were defeated in their opening games versus the Vasquez Mustangs on Saturday in front of the largest crowd ever to attend a home game.
For the Varsity team, first quarter injuries to running backs Chris Lafoutu and Thomas Kirby left the Sharks without their strong running attack. It looked as though the Sharks would put points on the scoreboard as both Lafoutu and Kirby began the game with big yardage gains in the Sharks’ opening drive. That drive stalled when the both players went down with their injuries.
Lafoutu was first to go down with damage to his right leg. After examination, doctors determined that Lafoutu had sustained a minor fracture to his tibia and will miss at least three weeks of the season. Kirby sustained an injury to his left knee, perhaps aggravating a torn meniscus. Kirby was able to return to the game in the second half, but was clearly not able to play at full speed. The severity of Kirby’s injury has not yet been determined.
Lacking a potent running game, quarterback Johnnie O’Neil was able to complete passes to wide receiver Sean Flynn who made two spectacular catches in the second half of the game. The efforts of the team were not enough, as the Varsity fell by a score of 12-0.
In the morning game, the Sharks’ Junior Varsity team came up on the wrong end of a 26-6 score. While the defense was unable to stop the Mustang’s potent running game, the Sharks’ showed
a powerful running game of its own. Sophomore Miles Edman ran for 193 yards on 26 carries for Malibu, promising another exciting season after gaining 1,000 yards as a freshman.
The next game for the Sharks football team will take place Sept. 19 when the Varsity travels to Ribet Academy for a 3:30 p.m. contest.