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Pop Warner football: M-A Vikings advance to semifinals

Championship Pop Warner football frenzy continues to heat up for the Menlo-Atherton Vikings, as the local PeeWee squad prepares for the Pacific Northwest semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Visit mapopwarner.com for the time and site, which have still to be determined by Pop Warner officials.

The undefeated Vikings PeeWees (11 and 12-year-olds) advanced to the regional championship on Saturday, Nov. 12, with a 26-6 victory in San Jose over the Redwood City Junior 49ers for the Peninsula Conference title.

In an earlier game, the Vikings Junior PeeWees dropped a 39-8 verdict to their Redwood City counterparts.

Coach Steve Stenstrom had his Vikings PeeWees at full throttle against Redwood City, jumping out to a 6-0 lead on a Blake Stenstrom-Lucas Andrighetto pass. Stenstrom hit Tate Tussing with a 10-yard scoring toss, and Jack Devine dashed 48 yards with an attempted onside kick for a third touchdown. Stenstrom's 5-yard run capped the scoring, augmented by Devine's 2-point conversion kick.

The coach lauded his offensive line for a powerful effort, and commended Andrighetto for key plays and safety Keyshawn Ashford for critical performances.

For the Junior PeeWees, quarterback Andres Atkins' scoring run was the highlight, as Coach Harold Atkins' team found the going tough after a promising start. Despite Saturday's result, "it was a great season," Atkins said. "The coaching staff is really proud of this squad."

A possible consolation game is in the works for the Junior PeeWees this weekend, with confirmation available on the Vikings website.

— Jim Gallagher, Vikings Boosters