Want to know why the Menlo-Atherton football team went 9-1, won the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division championship and is seeded No. 1 in the Central Coast Section Large School Division playoffs?
Look no further than the offensive line. In fact, it's pretty hard to look at anything else. Get those guys side by side and they sort of eclipse all other objects on the horizon.
The M-A offensive line from tackle to tackle — Sam Vakameilalo (6-4, 285), Malakai Mataele (6-0, 330), Semisi Mataele (5-10, 280), Josh Afungia (6-0, 335) and Litani Moimoi (6-4, 285) — averages 6-1 and 304 pounds per man.
You don't see many high school offensive lines that average over 300 pounds per man. Might as well call the Bears, M-A U.
They're big, but are they good? The proof is in the productivity of the offense. The Bears lead the County in total offense at 398.3 yards per game and in scoring at 34.4 points per game.
Those interior linemen are all of Polynesian descent.
"They're just unbelievable kids," said M-A coach Bob Sykes, who grew up in Hawaii and relates well to the many Polynesian players on his team. "They have a lot of fun with each other. They love life and are fun to be around."
M-A begins its quest for its first CCS football championship since 2002 with a 1 p.m. game today at home against No. 8 seed Homestead (8-1-1).
The Mustangs have had an outstanding season but are seeded eighth because they come out of the El Camino Division, the Santa Clara Valley League's weaker division. Kevin Rogers has rushed for 1,211 yards and 13 touchdowns to lead the Mustangs. "They're well-coached and come right at you," Sykes said. "They have a lot of speed on the line. I think we'll be prepared for them. This is a real mature group." Homestead's one loss was to Saratoga, 24-19. M-A beat Saratoga in its season-opener, 21-13. "We're going to have to play well to beat them," Sykes said. It was Homestead that Menlo-Atherton defeated 48-34 for the 2002 Division II championship behind the passing of T.C. Ostrander. This is a different M-A team, a balanced offense featuring the running of Will Latu and Jamal Wilkins and the passing of Troy McCabe. Latu has rushed for 923 yards, 7.9 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns. Wilkins has rushed for 672 yards and is averaging 9.0 yards per carry. McCabe has thrown for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns and has completed 61.8 percent of his passes. Sam Knapp is McCabe's favorite target, with 31 catches for 596 yards and seven touchdowns. The M-A defense is led by Moimoi, a returning All-County first-team selection being recruited by several Pac-10 schools. He has moved from defensive end to tackle this season. He plays alongside nose guard Villiami Talakai. Afungia plays the other tackle. Paula Mataele and Jason Williams are the ends. Linebacker Andrew Klein and cornerback Nick Dove also have had oustanding seasons. If M-A gets by Homestead, a rematch with No. 4 seed Aragon could take place. The Bears ended Aragon's four-year run as PAL Bay champions this season, winning the head-to-head matchup 21-14.
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