Summoning the type of energy the Menlo School flag football team owned when it took the field three seasons ago, the Knights took control in a 27-12 win over Menlo-Atherton to advance to the first CCS Open championship.

The top seeded Knights (15-2) will face No. 3 Los Gatos (22-5) in Saturday’s championship game at Santa Clara High, time TBD. The Wildcats beat Sacred Heart Prep 6-0 in double overtime Wednesday.

Junior quarterback got the ball rolling with a touchdown pass to senior Maren Mulloy, who also had two conversions. Knights sophomore Kaelee Wang, who ran at will against the Bears, high stepped and juked her way to a second-quarter touchdown and a 13-6 halftime lead.

Senior Sophie Housser pulled in two touchdown passes in the second half. M-A’s Ryland Caelius ran for a TD in the first half, and added a TD reception in the second.

The Knights, who won 41 consecutive games over three seasons before a pair of losses this year, were still crowned co-league champions and came into the top tier of CCS with the top seed.

“I’ve never been on such a dominant team and I think it’s just special for us because, regardless of the losses we have had, and the pressure to keep up the win streak and the way we felt when we lost it, this is more important than any streak,” Housser said. “It’s the championship, and if we win this, we can show that even though we don’t have that undefeated streak, we’re still the best team.”

For the Menlo seniors who have been there since day one when the sport launched at Menlo in 2023, having CCS playoffs makes the season seem complete. “Our coaches keep saying that ‘you’re making history,’ ” Mulloy said. “And I think it’s just special to be able to play in the first flag football playoffs—such a great experience that I’m so lucky to be a part of.”