Menlo’s quarterback duo shines as Knights stay perfect: “They can each bring something different”

ATHERTON — Neither of these teams were expected to do much this season. 

Menlo School, which perennially has a small number of players on its roster (28 this year), lost 16 seniors off last year’s team. Hillsdale, the third-place team in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Ocean Division a year ago, still made the move up to the PAL De Anza Division, rather than the first- or second-place Ocean teams

Menlo was picked fourth and Hillsdale sixth in the six-team De Anza Division prior to the season by, ahem, yours truly, for the Bay Area News Group.

But like the saying goes, that’s why they play the games.

Hillsdale and Menlo were both 6-0 and tied for first place when they met Friday afternoon at Menlo. Coming off a shutout win over Palo Alto, Menlo had a 19-0 lead at halftime. But the Fighting Knights of Hillsdale made a game out of it in the second half before falling short as Menlo ended up celebrating a 19-13 victory.

“I think it really speaks to the amount of work we’ve put in as a team,” said Menlo running back Willis Johnson, the leading rusher (63 yards on 14 carries) on the afternoon in a game that featured a combined 75 passes thrown by the two teams. “We strung together a great, great week of practice. Today we came out hot, firing on all cylinders and I think that’s what got us the win.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Menlo took the lead on the first play of the second quarter on a 22-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jack Freehill to Brady Jung. 

Freehill alternated with senior Mikey McGrath at quarterback and it was McGrath’s 1-yard sneak for a TD that put Menlo up 13-0. McGrath then connected with Harry Housser on a 25-yard touchdown pass, against double coverage, with two seconds left in the second quarter to make it 19-0 at halftime.

McGrath completed 9 of 18 passes for 166 yards. Freehill was 14-of-19 for 105 yards.

“They can each bring something different to the game which puts a lot of stress on opposing defenses,” Menlo coach Todd Smith said “Those two kids are comparable. Neither one is that much better than the other. They’re both capable and so they both play.”

Hillsdale forced a three-and-out to start the second half and proceeded to drive 91 yards in eight plays with Erick Waugh throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dante Allendorf. Waugh connected with Drew Rollolazo for gains of 44 and 11 yards on that drive. 

Waugh finished 20-of-38 for 263 yards. Rollolazo had 10 catches for 121 yards. Hillsdale had won 10 consecutive games since Waugh took over at quarterback with four games remaining last season.

Later in the third quarter Menlo went on a 12-play drive before turning the ball over on downs at the Hillsdale 18. The visitors from San Mateo needed only seven plays to go 82 yards with Waugh scoring on a 1-yard run.

After that score Hillsdale attempted an onside kick for the third time in the game, and this time made the recovery as the Hillsdale sideline and rooting section went bonkers, seemingly with all the momentum on its side. Waugh completed a pair of passes to Jack Haywood for a first down at the Menlo 10. But on fourth down from the 6, Waugh’s pass fell incomplete

“We thought we had some good calls but they didn’t work out,” Hillsdale coach Mike Parodi said. “Football’s a funny game that way. I was really proud of how our kids battled there. That’s exciting for down the line. That’s one game and we’ve got three more guaranteed. Our job is to keep playing like we did for most of that game.”

Hillsdale got the ball back one more time, but on the first play Nicholas Scacco wrestled the ball away from the Hillsdale receiver for an interception.

“It was a 50-50 ball,” Scacco said. “He kind of caught it first but bobbled it and it slipped out of his hands. That gave us some energy to close out the game.”

.Menlo (7-0, 3-0) now has control of its destiny with two De Anza Division games remaining against The King’s Academy and Half Moon Bay, before concluding the regular season with the Valpo Bowl against Sacred Heart Prep.

Hillsdale (6-1, 2-1) has divisional games left with Palo Alto and TKA before playing Aragon in its traditional rivalry Week 10 game.