The Menlo football made a late charge in the fourth but fell to host Sequoia 34-21 in a Peninsula Athletic League-Ocean Division finale Friday night.
The Knights (1-4, 3-6) and Ravens (1-3, 4-5) were locked at halftime 14-14.
In the second quarter, Menlo senior Jaden Richardson picks off a Sequoia pass from near midfield and runs down the left sideline to tie the score with 3 minutes left.
After the Ravens picked up two more rushing TDs to start the third and midway through the fourth, the Knights rolled through an eight-play, 64-yard drive spanning less than two minutes. Junior quarterback Elliot Kinder hit senior receiver Justin Sellers for three passes, which coupled with a Ryan McKee run took the Knights into Raven’s territory. Kinder found junior Chris d’Alençon for a 22-yard gain and senior Jaden Richardson for 13 more before throwing to Sellers, on third down, for a 12-yard touchdown. Menlo trailed 27-21 with 3:01 left.
Sequoia answered with a 55-yard run by quarterback Kyle Parker and senior Simon Talauati scored his third TD of the night.
A drawn-out and somewhat convoluted drive started the third. Menlo forced a Sequoia fumble on opening play. Richardson scooped up the ball at the 47 and ran into the end zone, but a penalty and inadvertent kick when the ball was bouncing around after the fumble gave Sequoia the ball back. Talauati scored on an 11-yard run.
The Knights opened the third quarter stifling the Ravens’ drive with Sellers making a pair of tackled and ending any attempt on a third-and-2 with a sack.
Menlo rolled out a 68-play drive with senior Samson Axe picking up 24 yards on five carries on the opening drive, and Kinder connecting with Richardson on a 24-yard catch and culminating in a 26-yard TD to Sellers.
Menlo returns to Terremere Field to play Sacred Heart Prep in Valpo Bowl XVII at 7:00 pm Friday, Nov. 8.
JV defeated Sequoia 35-6 to finish PAL-Ocean play undefeated, and plays SHP at 4:00 pm Friday.

PAL-Ocean

Menlo School 7 7 0 7 - 21
Sequoia 7 7 7 13 - 34

First quarter
M – Sellers 26 pass from Elliot Kinder (Santiago Garcia-Mendez kick), 9:06
S – Kyle Parker 3 run (Christian Cisneros kick), 3:36

Second quarter
S – Simon Talauati 8 run (Cisneros kick), 5:16
M – Jaden Richardson interception return (Garcia-Mendez kick), 3:01

Third quarter
S – Talauati 11 run (Ciseros kick), 11:54

Fourth quarter
S – Steven Stone 7 run (kick failed) 5:19
M – Sellers 12 pass from Kinder (Garcia-Mendez kick) 3:01
S – Talauati 2 run (Cisneros kick) :40.2