Calabasas Defense Inconsistent in Loss to El Segundo

How can a team give up just two touchdowns, intercept a pass, force four fumbles and still be accused of playing poorly on defense?

That’s what Calabasas High was asking itself after losing to El Segundo, 14-10, Thursday night at Calabasas.

“I don’t think we played consistent and cohesive defense,” Calabasas Coach Larry Edwards said after the Eagles scored touchdowns in the second and third quarters to win.

Most of the time, Calabasas (1-3) mauled the Eagles. El Segundo passed for only 88 yards, rushed for 117 and was penalized nine times for 70 yards.

Joe Montanez, who shook off a first half in which six of his passes were dropped, completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Wyatt for the game-winner two plays after teammate Jose Sanchez scooped up a fumble by Mike Webb and raced 35 yards to the Coyotes’ 18-yard line.

Webb had an otherwise outstanding night, rushing for a game-high 129 yards on 24 carries.

With quarterback Ceo Wimmer sidelined because of an injury, Webb and Scott Pensis (13 carries, 61 yards) carried the brunt of the Coyotes’ offense. Wimmer’s replacement, David Kalman, completed 1 of 8 passes for 15 yards.

“We turned the ball over, we held,” an exasperated Edwards said. “We did everything possible to lose the game.”

El Segundo defensive back Dave Lubs intercepted two passes, one to end the first half and the other, with 36 seconds left in the game, to clinch the victory. But it wasn’t that easy.

Calabasas led, 10-7, at halftime but ruined a perfectly good defensive half when it allowed El Segundo to drive 74 yards in less than two minutes for a touchdown with 10 seconds left. Montanez bootlegged nine yards into the left side of the end zone after completing 3 of 5 passes, including a 12-yarder to flanker Dan Brown on a third-and-8 play.

The Coyotes scored one play into the second quarter when Webb took a pitch to the right, turned upfield, then raced 29 yards for the touchdown. Webb had 75 yards in the first half.

Kevin Menteer put Calabasas ahead, 10-0, with a 31-yard field goal. The score came five plays after Casey Whalen intercepted a Montanez pass on the Eagles’ 39-yard line.

Calabasas’ defense, led by tackle Scott Kirkpatrick, held El Segundo to 102 yards in total offense in the first half.

El Segundo, which defeated Calabasas, 6-0, last season, is now 3-1.