San Mateo football mauls Menlo School in senior quarterback Lukas Fitzgerald’s return

The San Mateo High student section was looking for a “Beach Day” themed party as it took over the southwest section of the bleachers Friday night at MaryAnn Johnson Memorial Field. Their hometown Bearcats did not disappoint. Keyed by the surprise return of senior quarterback Lukas Fitzgerald, San Mateo (2-0) rolled to its second straight win of 2026, claiming a 42-10 non-league victory over Menlo School. Fitzgerald last saw game action in the 2025 Central Coast Section Division III championship game, when he was carried off with a torn ACL. The initial projection for the heart and soul of San Mateo’s read-option offense was for him to return by midseason. But the senior ultimately missed just one game by skipping last week’s season opener. “He worked so hard to get back,” San Mateo head coach Jeff Scheller said. “And, having this game, he was so excited. I think you could see how nervous he was. He just wants to be the guy.” It took some time for Fitzgerald to settle in, but his backfield was more than ready to pick up the slack. After Menlo (0-2) went three-and-out on the game’s opening possession — thanks to a third-down sack by San Mateo senior defensive end Eric Pahulu — the Bearcats took over at Menlo’s 44-yard line, and went on a quick four-play scoring drive. Junior slot back TJ Johnson picked up the first chunk of 13 yards, setting the stage of a big night from running back Declan Littman. The senior took his first touch from the Menlo 29-yard line, and motored around the left side on a pitch play to storm untouched into the end zone. “Ooh, he’s fast,” Scheller said. Littman went on to carry the ball five times for 142 yards and three touchdowns, adding scores of 63 and 23 yards later in the game. Not bad, considering a staple of San Mateo’s read-option offense is Fitzgerald’s in-play decision making, with potential ball carriers not knowing if they’re going to see a handoff or a pitch play until after a play is already in motion. “Honestly, you never really know,” Littman said. “But every time you know there’s a chance. And my philosophy ... is if I get the ball, I’m going to make the most of it, because it’s not going to happen that much every game.” The Bearcats didn’t know if the dynamic running back was going to play this year. A two-sport athlete, who also runs track, Littman opted not to play football his junior year. The kid who grew up showing off his foot speed by racing his father Marcus to the car in many a parking lot every chance he got needed a year to rest his 5-8, 140-pound frame. He’d never played a varsity down prior to this year. But, when he approached Scheller about returning to the gridiron for his senior year, is was music to his coach’s ears. “When he said he was coming back we were excited,” Scheller said. “Because I hadn’t really coached him. It was more he was on JV, but he lit it up down there. So, the fact that he’s back is great.” Recommended for you Honor roll: The week’s best performances by San Mateo County high school athletes Local Honor roll: The week’s best performances by San Mateo County high school athletes Serra football brings home first win from Hawaii Local Serra football brings home first win from Hawaii Burlingame football’s backfield depth leads charge in win vs Carlmont Local Burlingame football’s backfield depth leads charge in win vs Carlmont Menlo football Henry Senkut Menlo senior Henry Senkut boots a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter Friday night at San Mateo. Terry Bernal/Daily Journal Menlo used the ensuing drive to score its only points of the half, with a 39-yard pass from senior quarterback Caleb Cohen to senior Merrick Ward flipping the field to set up a 26-yard field goal from senior Henry Senkut. San Mateo then closed out the first half with 21 unanswered points, including an 18-yard scoring pass from Fitzgerald to senior Dean Qutteineh. After Littman’s second scoring run of the night, junior running back Lucas Hyndman closed out the half by breaking a 72-yard scoring run to send it to the break 28-3 Bearcats. In the second half, Menlo rotated sophomore quarterback Ryan Perazzo into the game, who used his fiery presence to gain 102 total yards — 9-of-18 passing for 54 yards, and four rushes for 50 yards. Cohen was 7 of 15 for 65 yards in the first half. “I think we work very well together,” Cohen said. “He’s one hell of a player. He can do some crazy things with his athleticism. I think we can have a super dynamic thing going on. He really likes to go upbeat and quick. So, that obviously worked a little bit in the second half. So, we’ll learn from that and see what we can do from that.” Johnson got it on the scoring party for San Mateo by opening the second half with a 40-yard scoring run. But Perazzo and the Knights responded with an eight-play, 66-yard scoring drive. After completing three straight passes, Perazzo showed off his legs with keepers of 7 and 26 yards to advance to the Bearcats’ 12. Two plays later, he connected with junior Hudson Hinkie for a 12-yard scoring pass. Menlo’s was a much more organized effort than in a Week 1 loss 25-7 at Carlmont. “Our offense progressed a lot,” Cohen said. “I know that the scoreboard doesn’t show it, but we’re so close to it happening, and it just needs to click. Something needs to click and eventually we’re going to get that, and it’s going to be scary from there.” San Mateo fired back with a 13-play, 74-yard scoring drive, capped by Littman’s third touchdown run of the game. The win avenges the Bearcats’ 42-28 loss at Menlo School from a year ago. “It means everything,” Littman said. “Last year, they beat us. They were really good. They’re still really good.”

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San Mateo High School Athletics

SAN MATEO FOOTBALL MAULS MENLO SCHOOL IN SENIOR QUARTERBACK LUKAS FITZGERALD’S RETURN

TERRY BERNAL DAILY JOURNAL STAFF

Daily Journal | 9/5/2026