The Menlo football team appropriately kicked off Friday night’s game at Carlmont with a passing touchdown, and an undercurrent of energy ran through the Knights sideline from kickoff as the team and fans knew Sergio Beltran had just tied and was on the verge of breaking a CCS record.

Beltran fired a pass to Carter Jung, who sprinted deep in Menlo territory down the left side for an electrifying 88-yard catch and run on the opening-drive.
Foremost the Knights had to stop Carlmont, who had a lone win, but came out with a fight, converting a field goal on the next play. Then Menlo had an answer, many answers. The Knights - and Beltran - showed their mult-dimensional attack as Beltran peeled off three consecutive rushing touchdowns that spanned the first half for a 27-3 lead.
With 49 seconds left in the first, Beltran threw to fellow senior Tyler Flynn for a 20-yard score. With that pass, Beltran set a Central Coast Section record for passing touchdowns in a regular season with 42, breaking the mark set in 1989 by Ryan Hancock of Monta Vista as recorded by Cal Hi Sports. He added another in the third quarter, a 3-yard pass to Jack Giesler, to total 43 with one game remaining in regular season.
“With the game, it’s a lot of reaction and adrenaline, so you don’t really remember the play a lot, I just remember the touchdown and I went to the sideline and every single teammate and coach was congratulating me, ” Beltran said. ” It just meant so much, I mean they’re my teammates and they’ve been with me through ups and downs through every single situation and I love them. I’m very lucky to have them.”
Beltran finished the night, completing 17 of 25 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns and piled on 10 carries for 95 yards and three more touchdowns. The Knights, who had clinched the PAL-Ocean title last week, wrapped up league play 5-0 and improve to 9-0 overall with one regular-season game remaining.
As always, Beltran deflected praise and pointed toward his teammates, And they set the stage perfectly.
After Beltran’s third rushing touchdown, the defense shut down the Scots on a third down and a seven-yard loss, Carlmont punted. On second down, Beltran found junior Ty Richardson for a 21-yard gain. Senior halfback Jack Giesler, who would later score on a TD catch, picked up 4 more yards before Beltran, with plenty of time, thanks to his offensive line, fired to Flynn, who broke away from his defenders on the left side.
“That’s just a credit to how good Sergio is and how well we’re coached,” Flynn said. “Our team has really come together. We’ve got each other’s back. We’ve got some confidence, we really trust each other and it really shows on the field.”
In the third quarter, the Knights defense forced a fumble, junior Ty Richardson scooped up the ball and bolted 77 yards for a score. Then, junior quarterback Jake Bianchi engineered a six-play drive that ended in the fourth with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Robby Enright.
Next week, Menlo plays host to Sacred Heart Prep in the Valpo Bowl.
“We just got to continue trusting each other, and having each other’s back when things don’t go our way. We have to prepare every week with 100 percent in practice and let the games be the fun part.”
As Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” played appropriately post game, the Knights enjoyed the moment.

“It’s important for us to remember how big a game this is but as we go into next week, we have another game and we just have to be calm and execute our playbook.”

Menlo JV also went 5-0 to win the PAL-Ocean title.

Menlo 14 20 14 7 – 55
Carlmont 3 0 7 7 – 17

First quarter
M – Carter Jung 88 pass from Sergio Beltran (Ross Muchnick kick), 11:03
C: Conner Cook 43 FG 6:37
M- Beltran 6 run (Muchnick kick) 1:21

Second quarter
M – Beltran 3 run (kick blocked) 7:23
M – Beltran 28 run (Muchnick kick) 3:10
M — Tyler Flynn 20 pass from Beltran (Muchnick kick) :57

Third quarter
C - Antonio Castillo 7 run (Cook kick) 4:13
M – Jack Giesler 3 pass from Beltran (Muchnick kick) 7:11
M- Ty Richardson 77 fumble recovery return (Muchnick kick). 4:13

Fourth quarter
M – Robby Enright 36 pass from Jake Bianchi (Muchnick kick) 11:15
C – Ivan Coronel 31 pass from Jack Wiessinger (Cook kick)