M-A Vikings go 1-1 at Pop Warner Super Bowl

Atkins said the Eagles featured an intimidating offense, one that runs a pass-intensive spread, something the Vikings have never faced at the 11U level.

“I’m talking about a pure passing team,” Atkins said. “They looked like Serra. … That’s weird for a youth football program.”

M-A stuck with its bread and butter, the more conventional ground attack, and rushed for five touchdowns in the game. Running back Jayden Colston ran for three touchdowns, including a long scoring gallop on the Vikings’ first possession of the day.

Fullback Nathan Giesselman added a long scoring run, and quarterback Henry Chen scored on a QB sneak. Chen also threw for one touchdown, airing out a shot to Bass Butler.

M-A’s secondary won the day, though, with cornerbacks Jeremiah Hernandez and Lopeti Taufoou working overtime to contain the Eagles’ spread offense. Hernandez recorded his fourth interception of the season. Safeties Chris Chavez and Jaiden Hill, along with Giesselman at nickel back, helped limit West Side to three scores.

“The defense was outstanding,” Atkins said.

Atkins has traveled to the Pop Warner Super Bowl four times, at three different age levels, in his time as M-A Vikings president and head coach. He said he has never faced a team from Hawaii.

The team from the Big Island certainly brought the Hawaii vibe, sharing gifts of Kona Island Coffee and Mauna Loa chocolate covered macadamia nuts with the Vikings.

“So, we made a lot of friends,” Atkins said.

The Vikings opened the tournament playing on the main field at Camping World Stadium, famed for being the current host site of the Citrus Bowl, as well as a filming location for the 1988 film “The Waterboy.”

M-A led twice in the game, using a rushing touchdown by Colston to score the game’s points. Then, with the game tied 6-6 on a Cowboys scoop-and-score off an M-A fumble, the Vikings jumped back ahead on a TD pass from Chen to Butler. The Cowboys scored the last two TDs of the game to swing the outcome.

Atkins said the Vikings had a chance to score on the game’s final play, but a long pass by Chen was just out of reach of a post pattern up the middle of the field.

“We threw a pass that was about to be a touchdown pass,” Atkins said. “It was just fingertips away. ... Had he caught it, that would have been the game-winning touchdown.”

The Vikings played in the Pop Warner Super Bowl Division 2 tournament at the 10U level last year. Atkins said it is not out of the realm of possibilities the team could return for a third time in 2024.

“We definitely want to see how hard they work, how quickly they gel and see what they deserve,” Atkins said. “At the end they’ll get what they deserve. We’ll see what that looks like next year.”