QB sparks Mahtomedi to 27-21 win

Mahtomedi quarterback Andrew Lindquist said being voted one of the Zephyrs captains meant even more considering an injury threatened to derail his football season.

He suffered a stress fracture in his foot in July from overtraining and saw his first significant action Friday against undefeated South St. Paul.

"The guys never gave up on me," Lindquist said.

A similar attitude allowed Mahtomedi to persevere for a 27-21 victory over the Packers, the No. 3 team in Class 4A. Back under center, Lindquist scored the Zephyrs' first touchdown and threw for the next two. Before Friday, the Zephyrs scored 21 points or more only twice.

With Lindquist driving the offense and Mahtomedi's defense keeping South St. Paul running back Sam Sura in check, the Zephyrs ended the Packers' 12-game winning streak in Classic Suburban Conference games.

South St. Paul (6-1) outscored its first six opponents this season by an average margin of 37 points and recorded four shutouts. But four of those teams had one victory going into Friday.

Meanwhile, Mahtomedi (5-2) took its usual perch among the state's top 4A teams to start the season before suffering losses to tough opponents St. Thomas Academy and Totino-Grace.

Lindquist, the Zephyrs punter, later tried to pick up a fourth-and-9. Officials ruled his dive toward the first-down marker fell about a yard short, and South St. Paul enjoyed a short field. Taking over at the Mahtomedi 38-yard line, the Packers got rolling on a 19-yard carry from quarterback Harrison Rund. He finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Christian Rund.

Lindquist took charge by completing two touchdown passes in the second half. Michael Harris got behind the defense on a post-corner route, scoring an 18-yard touchdown on fourth-and-3 to make it 13-7.

Sura made his biggest play of the evening on the ensuing kickoff, returning the ball to the Packers 49-yard line. Harrison Rund later got loose for a 31-yard touchdown run and 14-13 South St. Paul lead.

Mahtomedi answered as Lindquist finished a drive by finding younger brother Zach for a 9-yard TD pass and a 19-14 lead. The Zephyrs built a 27-14 lead before South St. Paul mounted a late charge.