Menlo needs a win for homecoming

Menlo College football coach Ken Margerum has to be hoping that homecoming this Saturday will bring more to the school than groups of alumni.

The Oaks are just 2-4 at this juncture, certainly in need of a victory if the season is to be salvaged. Menlo can take a step in that direction by beating Redlands on Saturday in Atherton. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

Menlo will have to cut down on crucial penalties, like the ones that killed the Oaks in their 24-21 loss at Chapman University on Saturday night.

Menlo took a 21-13 lead into the locker room at halftime. Chapman scored the game-tying TD in the third quarter, thanks to a pass interference call inside the Menlo 5. Later, when Chapman's Matt George missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt, Menlo was penalized for running into the kicker. That was followed by a roughing-the-passer penalty, allowing George to kick a game-winning 20-yard field goal.

Menlo also hurt itself with four interceptions, three by Craig Evans. Three Menlo quarterbacks combined for 10 completions in only 19 attempts for 127 yards. Oaks' running back Dan Nguyen nearly gained that by himself, rushing 20 times for 124 yards.

--Keith Peters

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