Menlo-Atherton-Palma football

Friday's game
Menlo-Atherton (0-2) vs. Palma (0-1) at Rabobank, 7:30 p.m.
 Don't be mislead by the Bears 0-2 start, having fallen 21-16 to Bellarmine and 30-23 to Mitty. Palma gave up 40 points in a 34-point loss to St. Francis.
 The defending Central Coast Section Open Division I champions, Menlo-Atherton played for a state title last year, falling 39-21 to Paraclete to finish 12-3.
 Quarterback Miles Conrad is going to air it out for Menlo-Atherton, having thrown for 508 yards and two touchdowns. The senior also has the teams only rushing touchdown.
 The Bears like to get the ball down field, as evident by receivers Troy Franklin and Spencer Corona both averaging over 15 yards a reception.
 Much like the Chieftains, Menlo-Atherton is also replacing a 2,000 plus yard running back from last season. Kilifi Leaaetoa is off to a good start with 178 yards against two talented WCAL teams.
 Four of the touchdowns Palma gave up last week were runs of 25 yards or longer. Menlo-Atherton is a punishing team with five players in the roster over 300 pounds.
 The Chieftains avoided being shutout last week for the first time since 2013 with a touchdown on the last play of the game.
 Menlo-Atherton dropped its first two games last year before going on a 12 game winning streak. The Chieftains started 0-2 last fall before running off 10 straight wins.