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By Jim Gallagher
Vikings Boosters
Two Menlo-Atherton Vikings teams face their Redwood City Junior 49ers counterparts Sunday, Nov. 13, at Andrew Hill High in San Jose in the Pop Warner Peninsula Conference Football Championships.
Times will be announced on the Vikings website, mapopwarner.com.
The Vikings Junior PeeWees (10 and 11 year olds) defeated the Berkeley Bears on Saturday, Nov. 5, by a score of 27-0 to enter the finals, while the PeeWees (11 and 12 year olds) whipped the Hollister Vikings 34-8 on Sunday, Nov. 6, before some 500 fans at Woodside High.
“It’s the culmination of a dream season, going against our good friends and local rivals from Redwood City,” said Vikings President Bob Williams. “It’s a testament to a great group of kids and good coaching.”
Coach Harold Atkins of the undefeated Junior PeeWees lauded his powerful line for dramatic improvement.
“They’re our mainstay,” said Atkins, citing tackles Alejandro Ross and Tavita MoiMoi, guards Jordan Langhorne and Matt Azzopardi, and center Will Holthaus. Jack Ocken provided the offensive fireworks against Berkeley with a 97-yard touchdown run, while Daniel Hiemuli contributed a 60-yard punt return.
Former Stanford quarterback Steve Stenstrom was equally proud of his PeeWees, who erased an earlier tie with Hollister with Sunday’s victory. “To see the boys’ improvement is immensely satisfying,” the coach said.
Enhancing the Stenstrom presence was quarterback Blake Stenstrom, who shocked Hollister with an 88-yard sneak, threw a 27-yard scoring pass to Tate Tussing, and caught a 17-yard touchdown from Jack Devine. Keyshawn Ashford and Marcelous Chester also scored for the Vikings.
Congrats to the Coach Atkins and Coach Stenstrom, their Viking players and fans, as well as to the 49ers!
A little background: last season, the Viking and 49er Jr PeeWee’s met in the playoffs and fought to a tie in regulation play in a rainswept muddy slugfest in Santa Cruz. Although the Vikings beat RWC in the regular season matchup, RWC prevailed in overtime to take the playoff victory.
Those two teams, with many of the same coaches and players will this year seek the Peninsula Championship at the PeeWee level.
In a Pop Warner conference that stretches from Monterey to Daly City, to have local powerhouses Menlo Atherton and Redwood City compete for the JPW and PW crowns shows the quality and strength of their programs and speaks of the renaissance of youth football in the mid-peninsula area.
Great job, Vikings!
Saw the little kids team (mighty mites? play) at MA v SHP halftime last Friday – what a great show. Those 8 year olds could really play!
Good to see youth football make such a positive impact for the kids.
Good luck, Vikings!
Great season, job well done by all the Viking teams. Football is the greatest of all the American games.
Championship games moved to SATURDAY at Andrew Hill.
Good luck Vikings!!
8am JPW – MA Vikings vs RWC
10am PeeWee – MA Vikings vs RWC
Noon JPW – East Bay vs Cambrian Valley (San Jose)
2pm PW – East Bay vs Morgan Hill
4pm Jr Midget – Almaden vs Coyote Creek
Go Vikings!
please post the scores as soon as you can.
I played in this game back in 2011 we beat the Niners handily. It’s so fun to read all these reports and comments 3 years later. I have moved and will be playing for Valor Christian High School next year. I wish luck to all my teammates from this memorable season and I hope to see you all again sometime. Again I thank the parents and fans for much of our success through junior league and although I missed my last year as a Viking, you all will be in my mind forever.