Vikings initiate 2004 grid season Vikings initiate 2004 grid season (September 01, 2004)

By Jim Gallagher
Viking Boosters

All five Menlo-Atherton Vikings Pop Warner teams forged a strong start to the 2004 football season during an opening Jamboree Sunday at Menlo-Atherton High School.

The Viking Junior Pee Wees romped over San Lorenzo Valley 34-0, while the Junior Midgets pinned a 32-0 defeat on their San Lorenzo counterparts. The Viking Pee Wees edged the Pacifica Tiger Sharks 7-6, while both Viking Mitey Mites (7-9 year old teams) played competitive non-scoring games.

Mitey Mite Gold

Wide receiver Stephen Chu scored on a reverse, and running back Keesean Johnson racked up solid gains for the Viking Gold against Coyote Creek of South San Jose. On defense, Royce Branning had an incerception and Andre Guzman shook loose a crucial fumble. Linebackers Scott MacKenzie and Jaime Carranza made some big hits behind a defensive line that Coach Robert Guzman called "consistently effective."

Mitey Mite Purple

Stamping themselves as one of the dominant 7-9 teams in the Bay Area, the Viking Purple moved virtually at will against the Oak Grove (Morgan Hill) Roadrunners. Explosive running backs Ryan Gaertner, Kahlil James and Landon Baty gobbled up big yardage, while defensive coach Jim Rutter praised Jack Chilton, Brian Rodgers, Chris Williams and Grant Stewart for dominant defensive line play. Big runs from Peter Bouret, Ryan Roberts and Campell Roelling added fuel to the Purple juggernaut.

Junior Pee Wees

Keenan Gates scored twice, and additional touchdowns came from Sean Barrett, Travis McHugh and Jake Britschgi as the Viking Juniors ran roughshod over the San Lorenzo Valley Cougars. Quarterback Patrick Bruni triggered a devastating attack behind an offensive line led by Nollan Fallon and Christian Perkins. Defenders Dylan Kappeler, Jesse Perkins and Scott Zimmerman (with an interception) were lauded by Coach Bill Barrett for dominating play.

Pee Wees

Locked in the battle of the day, the Viking Pee Wees squeezed out a 7-6 win over the Pacifica Tiger Sharks on Bo Sakowski's one-yard scoring plunge. Chris Gaertner's gallop set up the TD, and Marquise Tollson ran for the deciding extra point. Leading by a single digit at the half, the Vikings relied on stellar defense by Brandon Gibson, Anthony Tran, Ian Ritchey and Wes Hagman to preserve the victory.

Junior Midgets

Up 32-0 at the half, the Viking Junior Midgets simply ran out the clock against an overmatched San Lorenzo Valley squad. Running backs Anthony Andrighetto and Rod Nash found little resistance from Cougar tacklers, and wideout Johnny McDowell carried the ball effectively, as well. The Cougars were virtually helpless against a defense keyed by Chris Barrett, Justin Artim, Pale (Junior T) Tavasa and Malek James. The Junior Midgets, many of them members of last season's Pacific Northwest Regional Champion Pee Wees, are looking for even bigger conquests this year.

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