A controversial pass interference call that set up the game’s only touchdown cost the M-A Vikings PeeWees an 8-0 defeat in their Peninsula Conference championship game Nov. 12 at Woodside High.
Hollister’s Pop Warner team, also called the Vikings, cashed in on a halfback pass and two-point conversion kick in the second quarter for the winning margin.
On four separate occasions throughout the game, M-A came up inches short on critical fourth-down plays, negating otherwise effective running by tailback Khalil (Lil) James and quarterback Landon Baty.
Menlo-Atherton moved consistently on the ground behind effective blocking by Parker Smith, Nicky Brandman, Dominic Andrighetto, Charlie Tidmarsh, Niki Goyle, Neil Schott and Chris Blank.
Defenders Ryan Blocker and Peter Bouret played well in the secondary, and fierce hitting by James and Baty slowed the unbeaten Hollister offense during a scoreless second half.
While the loss ended the Vikings season, all of M-A’s Pop Warner teams reached this year’s conference playoffs and established strong momentum for 2007.
