Pop Warner football: Viking report for games of October 31 Pop Warner football: Viking report for games of October 31 (November 03, 2004)

Four of five M-A Viking football teams move further into Peninsula Conference Pop Warner playoff action this weekend.

The Junior Midgets eliminated Redwood City's Junior 49ers 25-0 Sunday in first-round play at Saratoga High School, while the Viking Pee Wees rallied for a 27-8 win over the West Valley Falcons.

M-A's Junior Pee Wees saw their season end with a 20-13 loss to the Falcons, but the youngest Vikings, Mitey Mite Gold and Purple teams, stage '04 finales this weekend in traditional "Superb Bowl" games against opponents yet to be determined.

Junior Midgets

Running backs Anthony Andrighetto and Rod Nash ripped holes in the Redwood City defense as the Vikings dominated the Junior 49ers with three touchdowns in the second half. Andrighetto dashed 25 yards to set up a Malek James touchdown in the first quarter, and Nash took a conversion pass from Turner Baty. Andrighetto (65 yards) and Nash (30 yards) bolted for second-half tallies, and Chris Barrett scored with a pilfered Junior 49er screen pass. Joshua Yim and Justin Artim were active on a Viking defense that virtually shut down the Junior 49er attack.

Pee Wees

Down 8-0 in the first quarter, the Vikings blitzed West Valley with touchdowns by Chris Gaertner and Michael Culhane (on a Josiah Paye pass) to lead 14-8 at halftime. Gaertner picked off a Falcon pass in the third quarter, then caught a 22-yard scoring bomb from Paye for a 20-8 lead. Paye hit Marquise Tolson for a 33-yard score after Bo Sakowski made a key fumble recovery. Jack Brody, whose running established Viking ball control in the second half, scored the conversion. Ian Ritchey and Anthony Tran provided solid blocking, and Brandon Gibson was outstanding on defense. Wes Hagman had a huge day in the secondary, intercepting three passes.

Junior Pee Wees

A hard-fought loss to West Valley ended the Viking season, but several M-A athletes turned in exceptional performances. Travis McHugh broke off a 50-yard touchdown run, and Hale Tussing scored from 35 yards out. McHugh snatched two interceptions, one off a tipped pass by Tussing. A defensive stand at the 5-yard line gave the Vikings a chance to win, but they couldn't quite pull it off.

-- Jim Gallagher, Viking Boosters

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