On the Line: Menlo defensive end Alex Gold

Not only was Woodside shut out in the final quarter, the Knights defense forced three turnovers and totaled five sacks during the closing 12 minutes. All told, Menlo had eight sacks on the day, with 3 1/2 sacks from each Gold and fellow defensive end, sophomore J.H. Tevis.

“We were getting to the quarterback a lot early in the game, but weren’t able to sack him,” Gold said. “I think it was more a matter of — just keep on getting after it … and we finally were able to get to him.”

This is Gold’s first season as a full-fledged varsity starter. He was in line for a first-string job last season, but played sparingly after suffering a painful stress fracture in his back while playing lacrosse his sophomore year. He then got off to an injury-riddled start this season with a bout of bursitis.

After missing Menlo’s opening game against Carmel, though, he has gathered quite a head of steam. Gold initially started at defensive tackle in his debut Week 2 against Mission-SF. But the following week, when senior defensive end Charlie Roth suffered an ankle injury, Gold shuffled back to his natural defensive end position.

Since then, the 6-foot, 185-pound Gold has totaled 6 1/2 sacks on the year for the undefeated Knights.

“Yeah, we like getting to the quarterback,” Gold said. “We like forcing turnovers. We’re a pretty aggressive bunch.”

One of the secrets to Menlo’s defensive-line success is third-year varsity senior John Guiragossian. The 6-2, 265-pound defensive tackle is the sturdiest lineman on a Knights team that has been decimated by injuries.

“He’s a great leader,” Gold said. “He has very good technique an he’s also a big strong guy. He’s the full package. He’s the real deal.”

While Guiragossian wreaks havoc on the inside, Gold has motored through opposing lines at an exponential rate. But it wasn’t just his proficiency at getting to Woodside quarterback Scudder Stockwell that proved a game-changer. He assisted on a big third-down stop at the most critical juncture of the game that shifted the momentum for Menlo.

With Menlo clinging to a 21-20 lead, Woodside opened the fourth quarter on the verge of taking the lead back. The Wildcats were looking at third-and-goal from the Menlo 3-yard line and ran a draw play to 6-2, 235-pound senior fullback Sione Halaapiapi.

While Halaapiapi was held in check with 17 yards on 13 carries on plays from scrimmage, he had gotten into the end zone with the same draw play on a critical two-point conversion run at the end of the first half to tie the game 14-14.

But this time Menlo was up to the challenge, stacking the strong side with three tacklers — Gold, junior linebacker Charlie Ferguson and junior defensive back Hayden Pegley — who stopped Halaapiapi for a 1-yard gain. Then on fourth-and-2, Woodside tried to throw for the touchdown; but as the Menlo rush converged on Stockwell, the Wildcats QB started to throw a desperation pass. It never left his hand, however, as Roth surged towards him to strip the ball away for a turnover.

Menlo went on to score two touchdowns over the next five minutes, with a 60-yard scoring run by Ferguson followed by a 45-yard pcik 6 by sophomore defensive back Robert Lopez.

And on the play prior to the interception, Gold and Tevis sacked Stockwell for a 12-yard loss. Gold and Tevis both emerged from the pile with charismatic sack dances on that one. When Gold again got to Stockwell on the first play of the following drive, the fiery defensive end came up with an entirely new sack dance — thumbs pointed down, fists pumping upwards.

After a talk with Menlo head coach Mark Newton, however, Gold said that will be the last time Menlo fans see the sack dance.

“I kind of let the emotions get the best of me,” Gold said. “Coach Newton talked to me about that and I probably won’t be doing the sack dances anymore. But it was exciting.”

Menlo intends to keep it exciting, though, travelling to Half Moon Bay this Friday. The battle of unbeatens will feature the most efficient defense in the PAL Ocean Division, as the Cougars are coming off back-to-back shutouts after doing a fair share of sacking themselves last Friday in a 31-0 win at South City.

The showdown could well determine who ultimately shoots it out with Hillsdale for the Ocean Division title this season. Gold and Co. have their eyes on the prize though, with one goal in mind.

“CCS champions,” Gold said of that goal. “Undefeated season.”