Mahtomedi suffered its first loss of the season last week in a 28-14 loss to fellow Class 5A unbeaten St. Thomas Academy.
The 2021 state runner-up Zephyrs were within one score through three quarters but could not contain the Cadets’ dynamic rushing duo of Savion Hart and Love Adebayo. Simley has a talented back of its own in Gavin Nelson, but it may be easier to focus their attention on one back running behind a bit of a smaller line.
Mahtomedi (5-1), ranked No. 4 in last week’s Associated Press Class 5A poll, was rolling prior to Week 6. The Zephyrs’ closest win was a 35-21 victory at a solid Spring Lake Park (4-2) squad. The schedule hasn’t been all that tough, however, so a matchup against Simley should provide another good litmus test for Mathomedi.
Corey Bohmert is the fourth leading rusher in the state based on stats submitted to Minnesota Football Hub. The 5-foot-10, 177-pounder isn’t flush with Division-I offers, but he’s a tough runner averaging 201.5 yards per game with 16 touchdowns. He’s rushed for 100 or more yards in every game and has 1,209 total. Bohmert had 11 carries for 79 yards and a TD as the third back in last year’s 49-21 win vs. Simley.
Current junior quarterback Charles Brandt wasn’t asked to do much in the win last year, but he was a solid 8 of 13 for 65 yards and no interceptions. Brandt threw for 171 yards last week.
Simley (6-0) is a win away from matching its win total from a season ago. The No. 3-4A Spartans are led by senior running back Gavin Nelson. He was tops on the team against the Zephyrs last year with 98 yards on 14 carries. In 2022, he’s up to 1,004 yards on 122 carries (8.2 ypc). His season-low 114 rushing yards was last week in a 27-0 game where his services weren’t needed down the stretch.
The Spartans have already assured themselves of the top seed in Class 4A, Section 3, so they can give this one a full swing without worrying about postseason consequences. The four other section opponents all have three or more losses and none have a tiebreaker.
Mahtomedi is up at the top of Class 4A, Section 4 with St. Paul Harding/Humboldt (5-1) and St. Paul Highland Park (4-2) nearby, but the Zephyrs’ strength of schedule gives them the inside track at the No. 1 seed.