The Menlo School football team wrapped up two days of building connections and sharing stories with Hózhó Academy of Gallup, New Mexico, with a regular-season game Saturday. The Knights won its opener 60-0 at home.



The Knights heated up quickly with senior Trevor van der Pyl taking the ball from Jack Freehill for an end-around and the first score on their fourth play of the game. Senior defensive end Palmer Riley delivered a sack, then linebacker Liam Pappalardo picked up a fumble and van der Pyl hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Freehill 3 minutes in.

Freehill finished with five touchdowns passes for the day - two to vanderPyl, and one each  to sophomores Drew Housser and JayAr Davis and junior Nathan Banatao.  

Sophomore JayAr Davis ran in from the 1 after a 27-yard kickoff return and sophomore Drew Housser added a 51-yard pick six to end an hour-long first quarter. Housser, who finished the game with two interceptions, opened the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown after a 20-yard pick-up on a catch from senior Jackson Flanagan from Freehill.