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Menlo-Atherton returns a group of skill position players that any prep program would love to have. As if that’s not enough, those ranks have been swelled by the emergence of several promising newcomers.
Matt MacLeod, who made his varsity debut in the 2018 Central Coast Section championship game as a freshman, will be in his third year as the starting quarterback. He has thrown 28 touchdown passes during his M-A career with only two interceptions.
The receiving corps has been M-A’s most talented position group for a number of years. Troy Franklin, now at the University of Oregon, was one of the most highly-recruited players in the nation while at M-A. Jalen Moss is a most capable heir apparent as go-to pass catcher, and has already received a dozen or so scholarship offers from top-level Division I programs.
Moss had 47 catches for 860 yards and 12 touchdowns over his sophomore and junior seasons. Also, like MacLeod, he took part in that CCS championship game as a freshman and made a game-clinching interception in the final minute playing defensive back.
He is joined at receiver by returners Jeremiah Earby, the recipient of multiple scholarship offers as a defensive back, and Johnnie Barbie. Earby averaged 22.2 yards on 11 receptions in the truncated season last spring, while Barbie averaged 24.3 yards on seven catches.
Adding to the team’s depth at wide receiver are Myles Jackson and Johno Price. Jackson (6-3, 200) is described this way by head coach Chris Saunders: “He looks like an Olympic track athlete. Long legs, long arms. He’s scary, dangerous.”
Price started for the M-A basketball team in the spring as a sophomore.
Still another addition to that WR/DB group is Jayden Moss, Jalen’s younger brother.
“He’s a different kind of athlete than his brother, a little bigger,” Saunders said. “He’s definitely in the mix on both sides.”
Andrew Buck was the team’s starter at tight end last season. Slowed by a groin injury, Saunders is limiting Buck’s time on offense, allowing him to focus on defense. Antoine Traversat has opened eyes with his play in practice and will start at H-back.
With a four-year player at quarterback and that group of receivers, Saunders said, “I’ve got to talk myself into running the ball.”
But when he does, there’s ample talent at the running back position, as well.
Thomas Taufui is a returning starter. He has rushed for 668 yards with nine touchdowns and averaged 5.9 yards per carry over the last two seasons. He’ll be joined by Jo Jo Flood, a receiver last season who has been moved to running back amid glowing reviews from Saunders.
“He’s worked so hard, I should’ve moved him to running back sooner,” Saunders said. “He’ll be a sideline runner, but he’s tough, too.”
The Bears lost a wealth of talent on the line.
“Those guys were a special group,” Saunders said. “Seven guys over 300 pounds who all played varsity two or three years.”
The only returning starter is Mone Ngalu (younger brother of Noa Ngalu, now at the University of Washington). Ngalu will play guard and nose tackle.
Keelow Melgar (5-10, 225) has stepped in to claim the starting job at center.
“He’s very cerebral, directs traffic like you want a center to do,” Saunders said.
David Tangilanu (6-4, 220) and Soane Faasalo (6-0, 260) are also penciled in to start on the line.
Buck and Sione Vaka were standouts on the M-A defense last season at inside linebacker, and they both return.
The team even has depth at kicker. Place kickers Juan Pulido and Hadley Pereur both return and are joined by strong-legged Dash Franklin, the team’s power kicker for long field-goal attempts.
M-A opens the season Aug. 27 at Bellarmine and then has home games against Tualatin of Oregon, Placer of Auburn and McClymonds of Oakland before beginning Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division play Oct. 8 at Half Moon Bay. The Bears will also be the designated home team in an Honor Bowl matchup Sept. 11 against Pleasant Valley of Chico at Liberty of Brentwood.
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