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Pop Warner football team plays for Western supremacy

by Jim Gallagher

Easily disposing of their remaining Northern California challenger, the Menlo-Atherton Vikings PeeWees meet their counterparts from Cowlitz County, Washington, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at Woodside High to determine the Pop Warner football "Best of the West" for 2011.

The winner qualifies for a trip to the Pop Warner National Championships next month in Orlando, Florida.

Coach Steve Stenstrom's 11- and 12-year-olds routed the Richmond Eagles 29-0 on Sunday, Nov. 20, at Santa Clara University, scoring all their points before Stenstrom placed his team on cruise control in the third quarter.

Dean Engram and Keyshawn Ashford ran for first-quarter touchdowns, while Ashford and Marcelous Chester scored again before halftime. Lucas Andrighetto added a pair of two-point conversion kicks.

The Vikings' customary furious defense, meanwhile, held the Eagles' attack in check.

Stenstrom, who has seen films of the Vikings' upcoming opponent, predicts a stern challenge for his unbeaten squad on Saturday. "They're as good as any team we've played," he said.

Junior PeeWees

The Vikings Junior PeeWees finished their season on a winning note on Saturday, Nov. 19, defeating the Sparks Cardinals 27-0 at Woodside High.

Taniela Heimuli scored a pair of touchdowns for Coach Harold Atkins' team, and Floyd Gazaway ran for another. James Miller recovered a Cardinal fumble in the end zone as the Vikings defense "pulled us through again," Atkins said.

Linebackers Matthew Azzopardi and Heimuli were particularly effective, and free safety Andres Atkins had two interceptions.