Much like the regular season, the Menlo football team scored early and often to reel in a 41-27 victory, knocking off top-seeded Seaside in the CCS Div. IV semifinals Friday.
The Knights move on to the championship game at 7 p.m., Dec. 1 at Terra Nova High against No. 2 seed Sacred Heart Prep, a 47-17 winner over No. 6 Soquel on Saturday.
Menlo last advanced to the CCS championship game in 2009. Fueled by its high-octane offense, Menlo is averaging 48.3 points per game and did not let up against the Spartans. Against Seaside, junior quarterback Jack Heneghan was 22 of 37 for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those scoring passes went to Travis Chambers while Heneghan and Matt Bradley each fired one TD pass to Connor Stastny.
The Knights (10-2) handed the Spartans their first loss in 12 games. On its first possession, Menlo converted. Peter Bouret-s 20-yard reception and Stastny's 12-yard catch set up Heneghan's 8-yard TD pass to Bouret. With four minutes left in the first, Heneghan twice found Connor Paterson for catches of 18 and 19 yards before ht hit Chambers for a 5-yard score - Chambers' first of two TD catches.
Seaside countered with a touchdown pass then Menlo's Colin Johnson forced and recovered a fumble. The Knights' converted on fourth down when defensive back and reserve quarterback Matt Bradley connected with Stastny for an 18-yard touchdown.
Menlo would score again before the half when Chambers pulled in a 6-yard pass from Heneghan and the Knights would enter the half, leading 27-20.
Heneghan also rolled up 52 yards in 18 carries and Chambers added 32 in 10 carries and also made seven tackles, second on the team just behind King, who had 10.
In the third period, the Knights added the finishing touches as the defense wrapped up the Spartans. Menlo's Will King blocked a punt and Colin Johnson recovered in the end zone. With just over a minute left in the quarter, Stastny pulled in his second TD pass - a 15-yard catch from Heneghan, and the Knights were well on their way.
final
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Tot. |
|
Menlo |
20 |
7 |
14 |
0 |
41 |
|
Seaside |
7 |
13 |
0 |
7 |
27 |
M -- Bouret 8 pass from Heneghan (Katzman kick)
S -- R. Turner 28 pass from M. Turner (Hernandez kick)
M -- Chambers 11 pass from Heneghan (Katzman kick)
M -- Stastny 17 pass from Bradley (kick failed)
S -- Reed 24 pass from Turner (Hernandez kick)
M -- Chambers 6 pass from Heneghan (Katzman kick)
S -- Jacubowsky 21 pass from Turner
M -- Johnson 5 fumble recovery in end zone (Katzman kick)
M -- Stastny 17 pass from Heneghan (Katzman kick)
S -- Evans 16 pass from Turner (Hernandez kick)