Aragon too much for Menlo

Williams isn't the only Aragon (4-1 overall, 3-0) player that needs to shift their game to a higher gear if the Dons expect to beat Terra Nova and Burlingame in the coming weeks. They took the better part of two quarters to dispatch the pesky and overmatched Knights (3-2, 1-2), who faced a decisive size advantage. Menlo's starting linemen, while mobile, resourceful and quick off the ball, were outweighed by an average of 40 to 50 pounds per person. Aragon never trailed, but only led 21-10 at halftime.

After going up 7-0 just two minutes in on Williams' 30-yard touchdown run, Menlo answered with a methodical 15-play, 78-yard drive, capped by Jeff Langskov's 3-yard TD pass to Charlie Hazlehurst. The key play came on a fourth-and-10 from the Aragon 46-yard line. Langskov caught the Aragon defense napping when he faked a punt before delivering a perfect strike to Colin Umphreys for a 22-yard gain.

Aragon retook the lead 14-7 with 9:16 left in the second quarter when Noel Alexandre hit a wide-open Eddie Williams over the middle for a 22-yard TD. Aragon followed the Knights' three-and-out with a careless fumble. Menlo then drove down and faced a fourth-and-12 from the Dons' 28. Langskov was looking to hit Hazlehurst on a slant, but an alert Matangi Tonga leaped straight up and intercepted the pass near the line of scrimmage.

The 6-2, 250-pound junior rumbled all the way to the Menlo 32. Aragon took five plays to cash in, scoring on a 6-yard run by Dominic Williams to make it 21-7 with 1:09 left until halftime. It was a potential 14-point swing and effectively sealed the outcome. Menlo added a field goal as the second quarter expired, but would get no closer.

Despite the lopsided final score, Aragon coach Steve Sell knew his team was in for a battle.

"They're not easy to prepare for," Sell said. "They run a unique offense (with multiple splits and pass formations) and they're tough. (Terra Nova coach) Bill Gray said it best when he said these guys are a land mine for someone to step on. Some team will come in here and take them lightly and lose. I have a lot of respect for them. This game worried the heck out of me. They run things no one is used to seeing and it's a little agonizing and frustrating to watch them go on those long drives. We need to find some consistency on both sides of the ball."

The Dons took the opening drive of the third quarter and marched 68 yards on five plays, capped by a Dominic Williams' 11-yard TD run. Tonga added a sack and Devin Gledhill had an interception. Eddie Williams continued to be Aragon's money player. He had just one carry and one reception, but both went for TDs.

Tonga rushed for 58 yards on only four carries and Alexandre was 5 of 8 for 67 yards. Aragon totaled 333 yards to Menlo's 312. Matt Moone led Menlo with 99 yards on 19 carries, while Langskov went 15 of 29 for 127 yards. Hazlehurst had six receptions for 62 yards.

Dominic Williams said he and his teammates might have underestimated Menlo.

"We came out a little soft and weren't hitting hard," he said. "Once we found our range, we knew we were going to blow up. We had a slow start because maybe in our hearts we thought it was going to be an easy game. We can't make that mistake again."