Schools
Sharks Football Knocked Out of Playoffs
"With the lights for our field, the interest in the program, and the success we had this year, I'm expecting good things for Sharks football next season and beyond," Head Coach Ray Humphrey said.
The Malibu Sharks football team fell to Linfield Christian High School in Temecula last Friday in a first round CIF playoff game.
It was the first playoff game for the Sharks since 2007. The Sharks had qualified for CIF playoffs the previous week in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to defeat Santa Clara High School. Sharks’ fortunes from the previous week did not carry over, and the season ended in a 44-21 loss to the Linfield lions.
Controversy surrounded a single play midway through the first quarter in which two key Sharks starters were knocked out of the game on illegal hits by Linfield defenders. Junior quarterback Chase Gardella was hit under the chin on a blatant roughing-the-passer infraction following a successful completion to junior receiver George Savas, who in turn was knocked out of bounds in a vicious hit 1 foot short of the goal line line. The Sharks family is happy to report that both players have recovered and are doing well.
Junior quarterback Dylan Miller took the reins of the Sharks offense, passing for all three Sharks scores to standout senior receiver Brennan Cassone.
But on this night, the Sharks were outmatched, and The Lions marched out to a 24-6 halftime lead, and never looked back, cruising to a 44-21 victory.
Head Coach Ray Humphrey said after the game, “I’m very proud of the season that these young men had... the heart, the drive they showed every game, winning or losing, was amazing. The seniors will surely be missed, but they left a good legacy for the program to move onward and upward.”
The Sharks Cheer Squad made the trip, along with student fans, and parents. Coach Humphrey remarked, “Our guys really appreciate the support of everyone who made the drive to be here.”
He added, “With the lights for our field, the interest in the program, and the success we had this year, I’m expecting good things for Sharks football next season and beyond.”
Several Sharks players are in the running for league honors which will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Sharks finished the regular season 7-3 overall, 3-1 in league.
