10.9.2021 – The Menlo School football team used another high-octane performance to deliver another lopsided victory - this time 55-21 over PAL-Ocean foe Hillsdale on homecoming weekend Saturday.
Menlo, which remains undefeated with a 6-0 mark overall and 2-0 overall, after its win over Hillsdale, which came into the game fresh off a win over Sacred Heart Prep. Hillsdale came into the game, having allowed 60 points in five games. Menlo plays its next three games on the road against Aragon, Capuchino and Carlmont.
Menlo senior Sergio Beltran added five more passing touchdowns, and now has 30 for the season. He completed 19 of 23 passes for 293 yards He ran for 46 yards in 13 carries, and his second rushing TD of the year. Senior receiver Carter Jung finished with 6 receptions for 114 yards and touchdown on Menlo’s opening drive. Juniors Cort Halsey posted five catches for 72 yards, and had three touchdowns for the day while Robby Enright.
On the opening drive, Hillsdale drove to Menlo’s 22 before senior Sam Scola delivered a tackle for a loss and Menlo’s defense pressured Hillsdale to consecutive incompletions.
Menlo took three plays before a 54-yard pass from Beltran to Jung gave it a 6-0 lead. Menlo jumped farther ahead when senior Aidan Housenbold tipped a pass and Halsey made the interception in the end zone. Menlo would extend its lead to 22-0 when Beltran found Ben Banatao, who got a key block from fellow senior Jack Giesler, before scoring. The Knights drove 51 yards in three plays, largely set up by senior Tyler Flynn’s big reception to put Menlo at the Hillsdale 9. Beltran then found senior Aidan Housenbold for the two-point conversion and Menlo led 22-0.
Hillsdale would strike twice - first getting on the board after Liam Smith found Zach Leighton for a 75-yard reception then later Joshua Violette would punch it in. Leighton scored one of his own on a 47-yard pass from Smith to narrow the gap 22-14, but that’s the closest Hillsdale would draw.
But, Menlo would counter when Halsey pulls in a pass from Beltran, sheds a couple tackles for a 31-yard touchdown catch, and Menlo went into the first half 28-14.
Coming out of the half, Menlo engineered an 11-play drive for 77 yards, culminating in a Beltran pass to Enright for a 4-yard TD score. Halsey picked up a 20-yard catch early and boosted by a pass interference call on a Jung throw attempt to Halsey. Ty Richardson picked up eight more yards on a reception from Beltran.
On Hillsdale’s third down, Giesler picked off a pass, giving Menlo possession once more. Buoyed by a pair of long receptions from Beltran to Jung, Menlo capped the drive with Beltran’s keeper to make it 41-14.

Hillsdale   0   14    0    7 – 21
Menlo      6    22   14 13 – 55

First quarter
M - Carter Jung 54 pass from Sergio Beltran (run failed), 4:25

Second quarter
M – Cort Halsey interception in end zone (Robby Enright pass from Beltran) 11:49
M – Ben Banatao 9 pass from Beltran (Aidan Housenbold pass from Beltran), 8:20
H – Joshua Violette 1 run (Zach Leighton kick) 6:41
H – Leighton 47 pass from Liam Smith (Leighton kick) 2:00
M – Halsey 31 pass from Beltran (kick failed)

Third quarter
M – Enright 3 pass from Beltran (Ross Muchnick kick)
M – Beltran 7 run (Muchnick kick)

Fourth quarter
H – Leighton 13 pass from Smith (Leighton kick)
M – Enright 2 pass from Beltran (Muchnick kick)
M – Halsey 2 pass from Bianchi (pass failed)