South St. Paul’s 1958 undefeated football team was honored as part of Friday’s homecoming festivities.

Things in Packer Country must have looked familiar.

A throwback offense grinding out big yardage on the ground led South St. Paul to a 27-13 victory over previously undefeated Mahtomedi.

Senior quarterback Cade Sexauer and senior running back Angel Rodriguez each chugged for two touchdowns for South St. Paul (4-1), ranked No. 9 in Class 4A.

Coach Chad Sexauer told players their victory over Mahtomedi (4-1), ranked No. 5 in Class 5A, will be immortalized on the wall of the tunnel leading to Ettinger Field.

“We do that anytime we win over a ranked team or we win in a special game,” Chad Sexuaer said.

Friday met both standards. The teams met for the first time since 2014, reigniting a rivalry between successful eastern suburban programs.

South St. Paul jumped out to a 14-0 lead on first-quarter scores just 1:16 apart from Sexauer and Rodriguez. The latter came on a two-play, 23-yard drive after a Mahtomedi fumble.

“It was kind of a cheap, easy touchdown,” Chad Sexauer said.

Nothing came easy in the first half for Mahtomedi, which missed on a fake punt attempt, lost a fumble and got stopped twice on fourth down by South St. Paul’s defense.

In the second half, Mahtomedi backup quarterback Jake Arlandson entered the game when starter Brodi Larson went out injured. Arlandson threw a 29-yard touchdown pass on fourth down and cut the deficit to 14-7 in the third quarter.

“We were confident with Jake in there,” Mahtomedi coach Dave Muetzel said. “We just couldn’t capitalize.”

Larson returned in the fourth quarter. But Rodriguez put the game away for South St. Paul on a touchdown with 2:53 left.

“We think we’re a good finishing team that can drive down the field,” Cade Sexauer said. “So that touchdown was huge.”

South St. Paul prevailed for a 27-13 victory on Friday against previously undefeated Mahtomedi.

The Packers, ranked ninth in Class 4A, scored on touchdown runs from quarterback Cade Sexauer and running back Angel Rodriguez in the first quarter.

The Zephyrs, ranked fifth in Class 5A, struggled to sustain drives. They missed on a fake punt attempt, lost a fumble and got stopped on fourth-down twice by South St. Paul’s defense.

Jake Arlandson, the Mahtomedi (4-1) backup quarterback, entered the game when starter Brodi Larson went out with an injury. Arlandson threw a 29-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to cut South St. Paul’s lead to 14-7 in the third quarter.

Larson returned in the fourth quarter. Rodriguez put the game away for South St. Paul (4-1) on a touchdown run with 2:53 left.

Check back later for more on the game.