Menlo News November 07, 2025

Football storms to back-to-back Valpo Bowl wins

Knights keep the Cup after beating Sacred Heart Prep 21-6

Menlo School players celebrate with fans after beating rival SHP 21-6 on Friday night

For the second year in a row, the Menlo School football team captured thje Valparaiso Bowl Cup - this time after a 21-6 win over visiting Sacred Heart Prep on rare Friday Night Lights game.

From the opening kickoff the air was electric, the stands were packed top to bottom and it was standing room only field level.

It wasn’t till the second quarter when Menlo jumped out in front on Nathan Banatao’s dazzling 45-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown pass from fellow junior Caleb Cohen on 4th and 3 with nine second left in the first half. Cohen stepped in for senior Jack Freehill, who missed due to illness.

“They’re a good football team, and they’re probably a little nicked up and we’re a lot nicked up and we started a new quarterback under a lot of pressure, and he did a a great job,” Head Coach Todd Smith said. “All of our kids did a great job.I feel like it means a lot to them, and that’s really important. That’s all I can ask as a coach is that they give all of themselves, and they did that tonight.”

Menlo’s defense stopped SHP on the Knights’ 26 on its first possession and a Palmer Riley-Chuck Wynn quarterback hurry on the second possession combined with a personal foul ended the Gators’ drive and the first quarter.,

At the end of the third quarter, SHP again went three and out after Riley delivered a sack.The Knights got the ball back to start the third, and Wynn marched the Knights down field 23 yards on four carries before junior Merrick Ward took the pitch from Cohen, broke two tackles and raced to a 32-yard score.

SHP came back with a touchdown pass from Nico Pollioni to Charlie Ward but Riley blocked the extra-point attempt.

Menlo closed the night when Wynn successfully executed the fake punt an got the Knights the first down to the SHP 43. Cohen found senior Trevor van der Pyl for the 18-yard score with 2:09 left.

Senior Dylan O’Malley was perfect on two PATs and junior Henry Senkut added a third.

JV finished the season with an 8-2 mark and second in the top-tier PAL-Bay after a 21-0 win over SHP.

Sacred Heart Prep 0 0 0 6 - 6

Menlo School 0 7 0 14 - 21

Second quarter

M - Nathan Banatao 45 pass from Caleb Cohen (Dylan O’Malley kick), :09

Fourth quarter

M - Merrick Ward 32 pitch from Caleb Cohen (Dylan O’Malley kick), 8:48

SHP - Charlie Ford from Nico Pollioni (kick blocked)

M- Trevor van der Pyl 18 pass from Caleb Cohen (Henry Senkut kick), 2:09