First setback for football in loss to Freedom

9.16.2022 – T​he Menlo School football​ team dropped a 38-14 decision to Freedom in Oakley on Friday night.
The Knights (2-1) took their first loss after bertingand the Falcons (1-2) their first win after losing to Marin Catholic and Cerritos.
After a 0-0 first quarter, F​​reedom ​pulled ahead on four straight scores. Menlo senior Ty Richardson blocked consecutive extra point attempts in the second and third quarters.
The Knights did an outstanding job of thwarting a Falcons’ scoring chance at the end of the second quarter. Freedom got a big gain on a 19-yard pass to land at the Knights’ 7. The Knights pushed them back for a loss of 5 then senior Avery Romain stopped the run with a host of defenders on second and third downs before the Knights’ pass defense stopped them, forcing an imcompletion at the Menlo 3.
Menlo got on the board in the third when Willis Johnson rumbled into the end zone for 9 of his 67 yards with 2 minutes left in the quarter. The Knights would score again midway through the fourth. After the Knights moved to the Falcons’ 45 following a roughing-the-passer penalty, Jake Bianchi connected with fellow senior Charlie King for a 35-yard gain. Bianchi’s pass to senior Cort Halsey gave the Knights first down at the 3 and Johnson punched it in on third down.
Menlo next plays host to Palo Alto (1-2) and coming off a bye week.

M​enlo School 0 0 7 7 - 14
Freedom 0 ​ 13 19 6​ - 38​

S​econd quarter
F: Dominick Tomlin 86 run (Justin Dallas kick) 11:34​
F​: Samaje Featherstone 12 pass from Myles Hunt ​(kick blocked) 4:34

Third quarter
F: Herschel Turner 25 run (kick blocked) 11:02
F: Herschel Turner 42 run (run failed) 9:08
M: Willis Johnson 9 run (Muchnick kick), 2:05
F: Turner 2 run (Dallas kick) :07

Fourth quarter
​F: Luis Aleman-Sapinozo fumble recovery for return 9:49​
​M: Johnson 3 run (Muchnick kick) 5:47