Menlo Menlo (October 22, 2003)rolls to big win

But Oaks (5-1) host No. 3-ranked Linfield, top-rated quarterback

by Rick Eymer

Duane Miller kept running and Frank Borba kept passing. It was that two-pronged attack that allowed Menlo College to rack up a lot of first half points en route to a 63-14 victory over host Chapman University on Saturday in a nonconference football game.

The Oaks (5-1) piled up 619 offensive yards on 71 plays, averaging 8.7 yards a play. Miller rushed for 111 yards on 18 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns as Menlo opened a 49-14 halftime advantage.

Borba was 22-of-27 for 298 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for 58 yards and another touchdown. Ferni Garza added 92 passing yards on 6-of-9 passing as 12 different Oaks caught passes.

Menlo, ranked 35th in one Division III poll, faces a tougher task this week when Linfield College of McMinnville, Oregon visits Atherton for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Linfield defeated the Oaks, 56-6, last year. Miller became Menlo's career rushing leader in that contest.

The Wildcats (5-0) are currently ranked third nationally in Division III after beating Eastern Oregon, 56-14, on Saturday. Linfield's Tyler Matthews is the top rated quarterback (177.43) among Division III schools.

Linfield clinched its 48th consecutive winning season, longest in college football, with the victory over Eastern Oregon.

The Oaks, meanwhile, needed 10 minutes to get warmed up against Chapman, but then couldn't be stopped. Miller's five-yard touchdown run with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter sparked a flurry of scores.

The Oaks scored four touchdowns within five minutes to forge ahead, 28-0. Jason Lauro caught a 23-yard scoring toss from Borba with 2:48 left in the first quarter, Borba ran 53 yards for a score 14 seconds into the second quarter and Galen Perry pounced on a loose ball in the end zone 19 seconds after that.

After Chapman scored to make it 28-7, Menlo responded with a pair of touchdowns on Miller's two-yard run and Joey Risi's 14-yard reception from Borba.

Risi also caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Garza and Vinny Benedett and Kevin Jones also scored for the Oaks.

Menlo's defense recovered four fumbles and came up with two interceptions, by Bryan Lohman and Perry.

Following the Linfield game, Menlo will play two of its final three games at home - starting with Puget Sound on Nov. 1. The Oaks will close out their regular season by hosting Concordia on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.