Scots stay unbeaten in PAL

So this year, they want to make it official and after a 19-0 win over Menlo-Atherton at Aragon Wednesday evening, they are a step closer to accomplishing that goal.

But the road hasn’t been nearly as smooth for Carlmont this season.

“Everyone is better,” said Carlmont head coach Oscar Fabic. “M-A is not the same team that started the season.”

Menlo-Atherton is fielding a flag football team for the first time this season and not surprisingly, they’ve had some growing pains. What the Bears do have, though, is junior quarterback Mae Kunihiro, who has a strong, accurate arm which can a go a long way in the game of flag football.

And the Bears like to throw the ball — a lot. But Carlmont’s defense was up to the task. Kunihiro completed 13 passes for 114 yards, but several drops and a tight Carlmont defense limited the damage the Bears’ offense could inflict.

“M-A came out with a solid game plan and our coaching staff did a good job making adjustments,” Fabic said. “I’m proud of our players for listening to us.”

Bailey van Loben Sels was Kunihiro’s favorite target, who caught five passes for 28 yards. Addison McCombs had only two catches, but those went for 31 yards.

M-A (3-5 PAL Bay) looked poised for a fast start as Avary Sheldon came up with an interception on the first drive of the game for Carlmont (8-0) and the Bears started their first drive at the Carlmont 35.

But the Scots’ defense came up big, allowing just six yards before M-A turned the ball over downs.

That turned out to be a six-point swing as the Scots responded with their first score of the game. Starting from their own 30, the Scots went 50 yards on six plays. Quarterback Lauren Greene capped the drive with a 21-yard scoring strike to Emily Monteforte down the left sideline for a 6-0 lead with 12:39 left in the opening half.

It was the first of three touchdowns on the day for Greene, who also connected with Euna Min for a second scoring pass and then capped the day with a 10-yard touchdown run. Greene completed 8-of-15 passes for 99 and the two touchdown passes. She also had a game-high 51 yards rushing on six carries.

M-A got near midfield on its next drive before Bella Wilson came up with an interception deep in Carlmont territory. At that point, both defenses took over as the teams exchanged punts for several drives. But the Scots got an interception from Ameena Mohammed who stepped in front of a Kunihiro pass and looked destined for the end zone.

While she did take it to the house, the score was called back because of an illegal block. But the Scots had possession at their own 36 with 28 seconds to play in the first half. Greene connected with Wilson for gains of 11 and 20 yards as they got the ball to the M-A 7-yard line with just seconds left on the clock.

Greene took the last snap of the half and scanned the end zone. She eventually dumped the ball off to Min at 5-yard line, who then shimmied, shaked and snaked her way into the end zone from 7 yards out to put the Scots up 13-0 at the break.

“I thought it was amazing how composed the quarterback and the receiver were with the play breaking down,” Fabic said. “And then [Min’s] effort to dodge, what? Six players?”

M-A’s offensive struggles continued in the second half as the Bears picked up just one first down. Carlmont had its own issues as neither team could move the ball much.

But midway through the second half, Carlmont iced the game with its best drive of the game. Starting at their own 20, the Scots went 60 yards on six plays, with Greene doing the bulk of the damage. She gained 23 yards on an option run and capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run around the left end on another option keeper to account for the final points of the game.

“Those were hard-fought points,” Fabic said.