Atherton, CA:

Menlo's three-game win streak is now a thing of the past, after a tough pill to swallow in a 19-14 loss to Florida's Webber International.  Leading 14-0 at the half, the Warriors deadlocked the score with two third quarter touchdowns, before taking the affair with a field goal and a safety in the fourth.  In the tilt's closing moments, the Oaks would put together one final drive in their bid at a dramatic comeback, but a Matt Pelesasa interception at the 4-yard line with only 27 seconds left sealed their fate.  The loss drops the Oaks record to 4-2 on the year, while WIU notches their first victory of the season, moving their mark to 1-4. 

99-yards on the ground, two second quarter rushing TD's, and a stifling Oaks defense gave Menlo a 14-0 lead into half.  Freshman Brandon Bell and junior Michael Alexander each dashed into the end zone, Bell's a 20-yard scamper with 11:15 remaining in the second, and Alexander from 4-yards out inside the half's final minute. 

Defensively, Menlo forced the Warriors to just 76 total yards over the first 30 minutes of play, including a remarkable -3 in the passing department. 

It was clear that entering the second half, momentum was well on the Oaks side.  Yet on the opening possession of the third quarter that quickly changed.  After picking up a first down in Menlo's first drive of the quarter, the Oaks were forced to punt.  On the punt, the snap went awry as it trickled off the finger tips of James Yoder for a fumble, eventually recovered by Webber International's James Waldron. 

One play later, Warriors quarterback Kentrall Mims hooked up with Deonte Fielder on a 32-yard touchdown pass to chop the deficit to 14-6 (missed Mason Prater extra point).  After initially making the reception, Fielder fumbled the ball into the end zone, but pounced on it to give WIU their first TD of the game. 

Fast forward to the final stages of the third quarter, and the Warriors found the end zone once again.  The aforementioned Kentrall Mims caped off a 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive with a 6-yard TD heave to Mitch Choquette with only 1:36 left in the third.  The pocket was collapsing around the Webber International gun slinger, but Mims managed to keep the play alive by scrambling to the right and letting loose to Choquette.  Déjà vu all over again on the game tying two-point conversion, as Mims connected with Choquette to knot things up at 14-14.

Mims finished his afternoon with a gritty 6-of-8 showing for 62-yards and two key second half touchdowns after not even starting the game in favor of freshman signal caller Jeffrey Wayner.    

The game stayed deadlocked until halfway through the fourth quarter, when the Warriors capitalized on another key Menlo turnover.  A Brandon Bell fumble at the Oaks 23-yard line set WIU up in prime position to take the lead with just 8:30 left.  Four plays later with the Warriors actually pushed back a yard at the Menlo-24, Mason Prater split the uprights on a 41-yard field goal to give Webber International a 17-14 lead. 

The Oaks came up empty on their next two possessions, including going three-and-out inside of three minutes to set up a punt deep in their own territory.  On the punt, junior Kevin Kurtz had his kick blocked, but was able to retrieve the ball in the end zone for a WIU safety to push the Warriors advantage to 19-14. 

Kurtz's ability to scamper after the loose ball proved to be a big play late in the game, as on the ensuing kickoff, the Oaks forced a fumble at their own 39-yard line to give Menlo one final chance at coming away with the victory, down by just five instead of ten. 

Pelesasa and the rest of the Menlo offense orchestrated a promising drive that saw the Oaks move the ball all the way to the Webber International 23-yard line, but an interception by Steven Willis with just 27 seconds left upended Menlo's final comeback bid. 

Pelesasa completed 17 of his 27 pass attempts, throwing for 105 yards and one interception.  Brandon Bell led the Oaks in rushing for his fourth consecutive game, totaling 61-yards and a score.  Robert Adan led the charge on the receiving end, finishing with a game high 59 receiving yards on seven catches. 

Defensively, Menlo held the Warriors to just 138-yards of total offense.  Devon Jonsson paved the way with seven total tackles and one tackle for loss, while Camyar Meshkaty produced the Oaks only sack, tallying two tackles for loss as well.    

The Oaks ready themselves for their second bye in the last three weeks next Saturday, before heading back into action with their fourth straight home game, on Saturday, October 20^th.  Menlo will clash with NCAA DIII #6 Wesley College at Conner Field.  Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00pm.