Carmel-Menlo football

 After starting the season 4-0, Menlo dropped three of its next four before rallying to win its final two games to sneak into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in Division IV.
 The 26-0 shutout over defending CCS Division IV champion Sacred Heart Prep in the season finale was impressive. Efforts like that can set the tone going into the playoffs.
 Plus Menlo is one program where Carmel isn't in their heads before the kickoff. It beat Carmel last year and gave them a battle in the CCS championship game two years ago.
 But if Menlo lines up to stop the pass first like most teams have attempted to do against Carmel this fall, it's going to be a long night.