Mahtomedi Zephyrs Edge Out Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders in Thrilling Matchup
Jaxon Mitchell, a speedy sophomore, made his mark on the game with two unforgettable varsity touchdowns, leading the Mahtomedi Zephyrs to a 28-27 road win over the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders at the University of St. Thomas’ O’Shaughnessy Stadium.
Mitchell, who began the year on Mahtomedi’s B-squad, hauled in a 70-yard touchdown catch and scored again on a long kickoff return, all in the second quarter. His impressive plays helped the Zephyrs take a 21-14 lead at halftime.
A Furious Rally and a Nail-Biting Finish
The Raiders, ranked No. 7 in the state, staged a furious rally in the fourth quarter, cutting the gap to seven on a 22-yard touchdown catch by Sam Heath. However, the Zephyrs’ defense held strong, and they withstood the Raiders’ final push, which came up just short.
With 3:43 remaining, the Raiders marched 94 yards to score on a 10-yard run by senior Ja’Dale Thompson, but their two-point conversion attempt was thwarted by the Zephyrs’ defense. Mahtomedi coach Dave Muetzel praised his team’s resilience, saying, “Our kids kept fighting. They had every reason to hang their heads with some of the things that happened. But they kept fighting, and when you’re hustling and being around the ball, good things happen.”
A Rematch on the Horizon?
The intense matchup has set the stage for a potential rematch in the section playoffs, which both teams are eager to see. “This one is upsetting, but I know we’ll see them again,” said Thompson. Mahtomedi quarterback Mark Graff added, “That would be another tough game. They’d be playing hard and so would we. It will be a lot of fun if it happens.”
The Zephyrs improved to 7-0, while the Raiders fell to 5-2, snapping their five-game winning streak. The win solidifies Mahtomedi’s position as the No. 5-ranked team in the state in Class 5A.
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