Menlo​ School football delivered when it mattered most​ Saturday, sparking the Knights to a 17–7 win over The King’s Academy in the CCS Div​. II quarterfinals at Cartan Field.

​The Knights (9-2) advance to the semifinals at St. Ignatius, 6:00 pm, Friday, Nov. 21.

Menlo senior Chuck Wynn breaks through for a gain against TKA in the CCS quarterfinal​M​enlo broke through ​early in the second quarter. ​Senior Dylan O’Malley put the Knights on the board with a 27-yard field goal​ after quarterback Jack Freehill ​found fellow senior Trevor van der Pyl for a 41-yard gain.

​TKA countered a play later when Jaiden Flores hauled in a pass from Ricky Gutierrez, scoring on a 52-yard catch and run, and taking the lead 10-7 with 9:27 left.

Freehill ​m​arched the Knights downfield on a six-play, 76-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass to Chuck Wynn just before halftime to make it 10​-7.​

The Knights’ defense took over in the second half. Cornerback van der Pyl snatched an interception deep in Menlo territory and sprinted 85 yards for a touchdown with 3:15 left. Menlo quickly ended any chance of late-game rallies: Liam Widner tackle, followed by Riley’s four tipped passes for the night, Merrick Ward tackle and a JayAr Davis pass breakup sealed the win. 

Knights senior defensive end Palmer Riley had five pass breakups in Saturday's win over TKA​”I think we definitely started off slow​,” van der Pyl said. “I won’t make excuses, but​ with the surface being a little muddy and it’s cold and not so many people out at the beginning​. … I think at the end of the half with that touchdown, I think that really got us going. ​Our message at halftime was we got to want it more than them, and I think we ​did. That’s the mentality we’re going to play with from now on​.”

Freehill​, back after missing several days due to illness, complet​ed 16 of 24 passes for 184 yards and the score. Van der Pyl caught eight passes for 124 yards. Palmer Riley led the defensive effort with six tackles, two for a loss, and four pass breakups. ​Merrick Ward added six tackles and a fumble recovery as Menlo kept The King’s Academy’s offense in check.​

The King’s Academy   0    7   0   0  -   7
Menlo School              0   10   0  7   - 17

Second quarter

M – Dylan O’Malley 27 FG, 9:45
TKA – Jaiden Flores 52 pass from Ricky Gutierrez (David Smith PAT), 9:27
M – Chuck Wynn 4 pass from Jack Freehill (O’Malley kick)

Fourth quarter

M - Trevor van der Pyl 85 interception return (O’Malley kick) 3:15