ATHERTON — Evaimalo Ama saved his best for crunch time.
An afterthought in the first half when he carried only four times, Ama provided Menlo-Atherton with the first two-score lead in the game with an 85-yard run for a touchdown in the third quarter. And then with Menlo School, down by three points and itching for an equalizer in the fourth quarter, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior broke off runs of 30 and 31 yards as M-A held on for a 21-18 victory Friday afternoon at Menlo.
“He’s explosive and fun to watch,” M-A coach Chris Saunders said. “His style is very elusive. He’s got a way about him that is really fun. We try to give him opportunities to go north-south and to fend lanes. ”
Ama finished with 207 yards on 18 carries with 185 of those yards coming in the second half.
“Staying patient was the biggest key,” Ama said. “This was a really fun game today, definitely one to remember.”
Menlo-Atherton’s Xander Eschelman (2) runs with the ball against Menlo School’s Tyler Fernandez (25) in the first quarter at Menlo School in Atherton, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
On a couple of occasions Ama seemed to disappear on cuts through heavy traffic only to miraculously re-emerge with his legs still pumping. Saunders says he runs like a rugby player.
“I played for the San Mateo Wolverines this summer, got a lot of experience going out of state,” Ama said. “It helped me a lot with my vision, speed and stamina.”
Menlo utilized its short passing game to play ball control and keep the ball away from the M-A offense for much of the game. Quarterback Jack Freehill completed 20 of 33 passes for 218 yards. Jamie Forese was his top receiver with seven catches for 124 yards, including a 53-yard hookup for a touchdown. Forese also made some big hits playing linebacker on defense.
The Knights also got a huge play on special teams. With M-A leading 7-3 and two seconds left in the first half, the Bears lined up to attempt a 37-yard field goal. Jack Enright blocked the kick, sophomore Nathan Banatao picked it up and raced 80 yards for a touchdown to give Menlo a 10-7 lead at the half.
“Obviously they’re not big and they’re not the fastest team,” Saunders said, recalling a 28-13 loss, also at Menlo last season. “But they play so disciplined, do some things schematically that are challenging and 3:15 on Friday is odd. That sun is the 12th man for them.”
Menlo-Atherton’s Xander Eschelman (2) throws the ball against Menlo School’s David Mhatre (54) in the first quarter at Menlo School in Atherton, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
M-A regained the lead on its first possession of the third quarter when Xander Eschelman hit Angelo Marin on an 18-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-5 play.
Anthony Van der Meer was a standout on defense for M-A, making two tackles for loss on one Menlo possession.
“Stud, a beast,” Saunders said. “He’s tall, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s athletic. He’s smart. He’s a very good football player.”
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For M-A (5-2, 1-1), it was a needed bounce-back win after a 21-14 loss to Los Gatos last week in a Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division opener
“No doubt,” Saunders said. “We put a lot on the table in that game and it was very emotional not coming out victorious. Ultimately we did just enough today. We’ve got some work to do.”
In the end M-A’s size and depth was too much for Menlo to overcome. The Bears rushed for 275 yards compared to 50 yards rushing for Menlo, which had 25 players in uniform. After going 5-0 in non-league play, the Knights are 0-2 in the PAL Bay.
“It is getting hard to play football in this league,” Menlo coach Todd Smith said.
Menlo-Atherton performs the Haka before a game against Menlo School at Menlo School in Atherton, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Menlo School’s Jack Freehill (3) throws the ball against Menlo-Atherton in the first quarter at Menlo School in Atherton, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Menlo School’s Jack Freehill (3) catches the snap against Menlo-Atherton in the first quarter at Menlo School in Atherton, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)