Photo Credit: Stuart Wilson

The Bears could not take advantage of their opportunities against Woodside.

It almost seemed perfect for the Bears, leading 14-6 at half. The Bears put in an impressive showing and shut down opposing quarterback Kenya Price; yet their season failed to finish on a high note, as it was Woodside who came back in the second half and shined under the lights Friday night.  Menlo-Atherton (1-9, 0-5) gave the Woodside Wildcats (1-9,1-4) their first win of the year after a 40-14 beating in which Woodside took out their frustration by ending a nine-game losing streak. Not only did this give Woodside its first win, but it put the Bears dead last in the Peninsula Athletic League.

Woodside trailed going into halftime 14-6 after a snoozer of a first half; besides the victory at Leigh, it was the first time Menlo-Atherton had led at halftime. However, the Bears we all know and love eventually gave up 34 unanswered points, most of which was delivered by quarterback Kenya Price Jr. who ran for 113 yards and threw for 173 more yards with three passing touchdowns and one on the ground.

Although the Bears compiled 183 first half yardage, the majority through the running game, they faltered in the second half with only 60 yards. M-A was yet again plagued by 6 turnovers, which has become a reoccurring theme for the struggling bears. Junior kicker Lualala Naufahu completed both of his extra points that made a clean and crisp 14 points after Stephen Fafita and Michael Brown scored on the ground.

In a season in which the Bears only scored 21 offensive touchdowns, it is fitting for the Bears to end their abysmal 1-9 season by losing to the winless Woodside Wildcats. Menlo-Atherton’s one-point victory against Leigh (4-6) seems to have been a fluke after the Bears lost six consecutive games to end the season.

First impressions are everything and head coach Tony Rosso’s first season at 1-9 leaves questions for the future of the Menlo-Atherton Bears program; however, knowing the Bear’s program, a 1-9 season could very well lead to a CCS berth next year. To forget a troubled football season, the Menlo-Atherton basketball team will have to compensate for the losing season, but there is hope that the basketball team will be just as good as last year’s, if not better.