The Menlo football team made plenty of gains but dropped a 54-14 decision to Peninsula Athletic League-Ocean leader Half Moon Bay on the road Friday night.

The Knights (3-4 overall, 1-2) resumes league play at San Mateo on Friday, Oct. 25. 
After Half Moon Bay (7-0, 3-0) jumped out to an early lead, scoring on its first two possessions, Menlo started a drive of its own.

Senior Jaden Richardson reeled in a 65-yard reception from junior Elliot Kinder, but the Knights were stopped short. On HMB’s ensuing possession, the defense rose: junior Ronier Babiera delivered a sack for a 4-yard loss to the 12 before senior Justin Sellers picked off a pass and ran in for a Menlo TD.

The Knights trailed 15-7 to lead off the second quarter. The Cougars picked up a 44-yard gain to open their next drive, then senior Miles Hester tipped a pass and Babiera scooped up the fumble.

 Taking a 28-7 lead into the second half, Half Moon Bay scored when Tristan Hofmann ran in for a score and 5 of his 300-plus rushing yards for the night. The Knights  would get an 11-yard kickoff return from senior Finn Leschly before junior Elliot Kinder found junior Chris d’Alençon for a 69-yard touchdown catch, and Menlo would trail 35-14. HMB would methodically march down the field, scoring on the run, usually via Hofmann who finished with six TDs and 314 total yards. 

Menlo School       0    7     7    0 -  14
Half Moon Bay   15   13   13   13 - 54 

First quarter
HMB: Tristan Hofmann 8 run (Hofmann from William Moffit) 8:55
HMB: Hofmann 6 run (Oz Monroy kick) 2:12
Second quarter
M: Justin Sellers 12 interception return (Santiago Garcia-Mendez kick) 11:09
HMB: Hofmann 18 run (kick failed) 6:24
HMB: Hofmann 32 run (Monroy kick) 2:21
Third quarter 
HMB: Hofmann 5 run (Monroy kick) 9:18
M: Chris d’Alençon 69 pass from Elliot Kinder (Garcia-Mendez kick) 8:22
HMB: Connor Quosig 5 run (kick failed) 4:14
Fourth quarter
HMB: Hofmann 36 run (kick failed) 11:50
HMB: Quosig 64 run (Monroy kick) 10:12