NOVATO CA - DECEMBER 3: Charlie Singleton (22) of San Marin signals after picking up a first down late in the fourth quarter during their NorCal 4-A Regional Bowl against Menlo School in Novato, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. San Marin won the game 29-21. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Menlo School nearly staged an improbable comeback Saturday night, rallying from a three-touchdown deficit with under 10 minutes to go before losing to host San Marin 29-21 in the CIF NorCal 4-A championship game
The Knights (8-6) trailed 29-7 after Ryan Rodas kicked his second field goal of the game, this one from 25 yards, with 10:04 left.
But Menlo’s Robby Enright returned an interception for a touchdown to make it 29-14, the Knights recovered an onside kick, and quarterback Jake Bianchi crashed over from the 1 with 3:58 left, making it a one-score game. The touchdown was set up on a 33-yard pass from Bianchi to Eron Chen.
Menlo’s defense forced a three-and-out on San Marin’s subsequent possession, but the offense couldn’t pick up a first down after it got the ball back. The Mustangs (12-2) then ran out the clock. San Marin will host Granada Hills Charter next Saturday for the CIF State 4-A crown.
The Mustangs’ defense made life miserable for the Central Coast Section’s Division III champs in the first half, limiting Menlo to 15 yards on 14 plays. San Marin had six quarterback sacks in the first 24 minutes, as well as a safety when it blocked a punt that went through the end zone en route to building a 19-0 lead at intermission.
“We couldn’t do anything in the first half,” Menlo coach Todd Smith said. “We started slow on the offensive side and didn’t play great on third down.”
Injuries were part of the problem for the Knights, who were without OL/DL Ralston Raphael and TE/LB Cort Halsey for the entire game, and CB/RB Ty Richardson for most of it.
The injuries were most telling on offense. Although the Knights managed 21 points in the second half, Bianchi was sacked eight times in all, and one of their scores came via Enright’s pick-6.
Still, even without three key players, the Knights battled. They finally scored late in the third quarter on a 13-yard pass from Bianchi to Enright, making it 26-7. It began a 21-3 run for Menlo, but the Knights had dug themselves too deep a hole.
This was the first time Menlo had advanced beyond the CCS playoffs in the MaxPreps era that dates back to 2004, so it was a successful season for the Knights.
“I’m super proud of our effort,” Smith said. “The kids didn’t quit.”
Originally published at Mike Lefkow, Correspondent