The Menlo football team for the second consecutive week won a game in dominating fashion this time managing a 68-8 non-league triumph over Mission-San Francisco on Saturday at Sequoia High.
Sophomore Charlie Ferguson put on a display of how to break free for the long run with a pair of 50-yard touchdown jaunts in the first half. He rushed for 190 yards in 13 carries.
“We knew they were a good team with some good athletes,” said Ferguson, who also caught a 50-yard pass. “They played a lot of 4-1 (single-linebacker alignment). Our line played awesome.”
The Knights showed why they are a multiple-threat team, finishing with 501 total yards - 232 yards of which came through the air. Austin D’Ambra completed 10 of 19 passes and threw four touchdown passes to three receivers. Along with Charlie Ferguson, Sam Ferguson and Jack Marren also hauled in TD catches. Marren had four catches for 95 yards, and tallied 109 return yards.
After last week’s shutout, the defense again took care of business. After Mission quarterback Jerril Stancil connected with Bran’Den Rodriguez for a 66-yard, second-quarter score and conversion, the Knights adjusted.
Mission punted and fumbled on its next several possessions before Garrett Matsuda, Antoinio Lopez and Jordan Pluchar (two) each had interceptions - Pluchar’s second accounted for Menlo’s last score. Charlie Roth had three tackles and two sacks while Macklan Badger made a team-high six tackles.
"(Defensive coordinator) Todd Smith has got us out there every day. ... we prepared really well for the game," Roth said. "We played great and I'm happy with the win."
During a week full of commemoration in memory of 9-11, Menlo coach Mark Newton led the Mission and Menlo crowd and players in singing the national anthem. The Knights (2-0) return to Sequoia High to play host to Alvarez (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.
