Publication Date: Wednesday Oct 15, 1997

PREP FOOTBALL: Menlo is most improved

There isn't an award for Most Improved football team in the Peninsula Athletic League. If there was, Menlo School would win the honor. Without question. "We had no idea it would be like this," Menlo's Joey Broder said. "We thought maybe 3-2 or 4-1, but to be 5-0 is the greatest."

Indeed. Menlo, after all, began the season without a quarterback with varsity experience and a roster that numbered barely 25. In fact, only 22 players were suited up last week against Mills--a game that worried Menlo coach Fred Barnes.

Mills came into the contest with an outstanding rushing offense and an equally good run defense. Menlo had yet to face such an offensive squad.

"We expected to be fighting for our lives," Barnes said, "but our kids came out and hit real well. "(And) We had no idea we could move the ball on the ground like that. Our offensive line really stepped it up for us."

All Menlo did was rush 34 times for 267 yards and hold the Vikings' vaunted rushing attack to just 113 yards. All told, Menlo racked up 374 yards and allowed only 168 during its shockingly easy 41-14 victory that sends the Knights (2-0, 5-0) into Friday's road game against a very beatable El Camino team (0-2, 1-4).

Menlo knew coming into the contest that it had to slow down Viking running back Michael Andreacchi, who had racked up 555 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the season. And not only did the Knights slow Andreacchi dowm, they turned him around.

Along the way, Menlo showed a powerful running game of its own. Menlo's Kansas Henderson got the Knights off to a good start with a relatively easy 43-yard touchdown run on a pitchout for a 7-0 lead, three minutes into the contest.

Mills responded with a 55-yard drive, resulting in a 15-yard touchdown touchdown pass midway in the first quarter, but missed the extra point.

Mills took its only lead early in the second quarter, when it scored on a touchdown run, set up by a Knight fumble. Mills made the two-point conversion for a 14-7 lead and from there on out it was all Menlo.

Menlo stormed down the field on its next drive and tied the game at 14-14 on a play-action pass from quarterback Matt Sheehan to Henderson that resulted in a 42-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline.

Menlo scored twice more in the second quarter courtesy of Broder's 6-yard run and the Knights' version of the "Immaculate Reception".

With 12 seconds remaining before halftime, Menlo had the ball on the Mills' 35-yard line when Sheehan rolled to his left and spotted Henderson downfield. Sheehan threw into double coverage, and when the pass deflected backwards, the Knights' Grant Partridge hauled in the deflection and ran in for the score to give Menlo all of the momentum at the half.

Menlo controlled the game in the second half with its running game and scored on a pair of 14-yard touchdown runs by Broder and Henderson for the 41-14 final.

The key to the game was the Menlo defense as the Knights held Mills' running attack to just 54 yards in the second half, not allowing a run of over six yards.

Henderson led a productive Menlo offense by rushing for 115 yards on 12 carries, catching two passes for 50 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Broder was also unstoppable, rushing for 141 yards on 19 carries and scoring two touchdowns.

Barnes praised his offensive line--tackles Kevin Talistu and Matt Nye, guards Jim Campbell and Duncan French plus center Don Porter--for opening holes for Broder and Henderson.

"I expected a 17-14 type game," Barnes said.

Obviously, it's time to start changing one's expectations of the Menlo football team. 

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