Varsity football lost 41-14 to Menlo-Atherton on senior night, Oct. 24. 

Menlo-Atherton gained a 14-0 lead in the beginning of the game. Paly scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter in an attempt to claw their way back into the game, but ultimately fell.

Head coach David DeGeronimo said the team had some positive moments, but they were overshadowed by the bad plays.

“There were a lot of things that we fixed and did well, and then it was surrounded by a lot of slop, a lot of mistakes, a lot of big plays that didn’t go our way,” DeGeronimo said. “The snap over the punter’s head, the muffed punt after three and out, the penalty after a 15 yard run, stuff like that was happening all night, and you can’t win ball games like that”.

Junior quarterback Justin Fung said the team is improving but needs to tighten up.

“We’re doing well in some spots and I think we just need to pick each other up and stop shooting ourselves in the foot,” Fung said. “But I still think we’re improving each and every week.”

DeGeronimo said the defense is improving, but needs to execute. 

“Defensively, we’re getting better every single week, but there’s (been plays where we) get them in third and 14, and somehow they convert,” DeGeronimo said. “That’s been the story of the year, and we can’t get off the field on third down.”

Fung also said while senior night is important, the team needs to exhibit the same effort at every game.

“It’s good we play for our seniors, but I think every game’s gotta be like that, and we’ve got to play hard every game, no matter what night it is,” Fung said. 

Senior kicker Abers Boyarsky said senior night carried extra meaning for him because he’s spent years watching his older teammates reach this point. 

“To me, it means filling in footsteps,” Boyarsky said. “All four years I can remember seeing my friends graduating and finishing their seasons, so it just means a lot to be able to fill those footsteps and try to play my best football.