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Menlo School was the undefeated Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division champion last spring, and the general consensus is that the Knights are capable of repeating as divisional champs this fall.
One reason is the return of starting quarterback Sergio Beltran, who completed 68 percent of his passes in the spring. He threw 13 touchdown passes and also led the team in rushing.
Head coach Todd Smith said he also has two competent backups in Jake Bianchi and Will Murphy.
It’s also a three-headed situation at running back, according to Smith, with Jack Giesler, Ty Richardson and Tyler Flynn, although Flynn won’t be ready until the second week of the season due to an injury.
Carter Jung is the leading returning receiver. He had 22 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns in the five-game spring season. He’ll be joined at wide receiver by Ben Banatao and Bob Enright.
“Our receivers are the strongest position group on the team,” Smith said.
That is especially the case when factoring in tight end Cort Halsey.
“He’s something else,” Smith said of the 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior. “He went to all these camps on the East Coast. I can split him out, do different things with him.”
The offensive line is less experienced than the team’s backs and receivers. Noah Kornfeld and Logan Deeter are the two returning starters.
“That’s where we have to magnify our coaching and get that group up to the level of the skill positions,” Smith said.
Junior Raphael Ralston (6-2, 220) is “a big bright spot” for the Menlo defense
“We’re expecting huge things from him,” Smith said. “We don’t get many players like him at Menlo. I expect him to be a four-year college player. He started at nose guard as a sophomore and we’ve gone from a 4-3 to an odd front because he’s so strong playing on the center. He gives centers fits.”
After sitting out last season, Aidan Housenbold will start at middle linebacker. In addition to their duties on offense, Giesler at cornerback and Enright at strong safety will fortify the secondary.
Ross Muchnick is another bright spot as the team’s kicker.
“I don’t know if I’ve been around a kicker with better ball placement,” Smith said.
Menlo will open at home against Sequoia Aug. 28, then will play at The King’s Academy and at home versus Mission of San Francisco and Terra Nova before beginning PAL Ocean play Oct. 2 against Jefferson.
“The league should be real competitive,” Smith said. “I was impressed with Capuchino and how hard they played last year. Hillsdale and Aragon are always real competitive. The league is comparable to the Bay with the exception of a couple of teams. Our objective is to be the best Menlo team we can be, week after week.”
