Palma-Menlo Atherton football

Friday's game
Palma (2-0) at Menlo-Atherton (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
 What an impressive start to the season for the Bears, who have victories over West Catholic Athletic League perennial powers Bellarmine and Mitty -- shutting out Bellarmine.
 Palma snapped a seven-game losing streak to teams in the WCAL last week with a 17-14 decision over Sacred Heart Cathedral.
 The strength of Menlo-Atherton is its defense, starting with 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker Daniel Heimuli, who has an offer on the table from the University of Alabama.
 He's not the only Division I player on that defense, as 280-pound defensive tackle Noa Ngalu has committed to the University of Washington.
 In an effort to keep opponents from stacking the box, the emphasis on throwing the ball has been the target in the Chieftains first two games.
 Dating back to last year, quarterback Grant Sergent hasn't thrown a pick in his last 191 attempts. Yet, last week he was sacked five times, derailing drives.
 Ultimately, it loosened up the defense, enabling tailback Anthony Villegas to have a big second half, rushing for 93 of his 110 yards - the eighth straight game he has rushed for over 100 yards.
 Menlo-Atherton will run the ball behind De'Marshaun Payton. Don't discount its ability to throw the ball as Justin Anderson turned four completions into two touchdowns last week.
 Receivers Troy Franklin and Malek Johnson, a transfer from St. Francis, are both getting attention from Division I programs.