Menlo News September 06, 2025

Football’s second-half charge defeats San Mateo

Knights (2-0) get four TDs, including three rushing, from Jack Freehill

Jack Freehill collected more than 300 total yards in a win over San Mateo

Menlo’s Will Farrell (50) stops San Mateo’s rusher in the backfield

Palmer Riley celebrates after the Knights cause and recover a fumble

Menlo senior Chuck Wynn races toward the end zone for a second-quarter touchdown against San Mateo

Menlo junior Merrick Ward heads upfield in the fourth quarter.

Menlo School football’s attack leaned on a powerful run game and some strategic aerial strikes to break open the game in the decisive second half of a 42-28 victory over San Mateo on Saturday.

Menlo senior quarterback Jack Freehill, who also posted four touchdowns: three rushing and a scamper from midfield with handoff, and threw for another, to finish the day with 317 all-purpose yards. He had 17 carries for 113 yards and completed 8 of 11 passes for 204 yards.

Freehill converted on a quarterback sneak to open the third on a 10-play, 64-yard drive for a 21-7 lead. Sophomore JayAr Davis’ 54-yard catch from Freehill propelled the Knights down the field.

The Knights defense made sure it was three-and-out on the next possession for the Bearcats, and Menlo capitalized. Freehill launched two passes to senior Trevor van der Pyl, who converted the second one into a 56-yard TD catch and a 28-7 lead with 5:02 left in the third. Van der Pyl finished with 5 receptions for 122 yards.

Menlo started the fourth quarter with a big-play drive after Freehill broke free on a run traveling 49 yards before handing off to Palmer Riley for another TD to move ahead 35-14. San Mateo countered with a score, but Menlo had answer for that as well. Fueled by a 40-yard halfback draw by junior Merrick Ward, Freehill scored on a run of his own for a 10-yard score. Senior Dylan O’Malley finished 6 of 6 on PATs

Palmer Riley celebrates after the Knights cause and recover a fumble

After Menlo’s defense made a huge goal-line stand on the game’s opening drive, Freehill got the Knights started on their first possesison with a quarterback sneak and a 7-0 lead with just 1:52 left in the first . The teams traded blows then senior Chuck Wynn scored on a 36-yard run to close the half. Wynn had 12 carries for 86 yards while Ward had four for 43 yards.

San Mateo 0 7 7 14 – 28

Menlo School 7 7 14 14 – 42

First quarter

M – Jack Freehill 1 run (Dylan O’ Malley kick) 1:52

Second quarter

SM – Lukas Fitzgerald run (Yianni Fitzgerald kick)

M – Chuck Wynn 36 run (O’Malley kick)

Third quarter

M – Freehill 1 run (O’Malley kick) 8:09

M – Trevor van der Pyl 44 pass from Freehill (O’Malley kick) 5:02

SM – Tyce Copus 7 run (Y. Fitzgerald kick) :03

Fourth quarter