By David La Vaque
Off to cover this match-up of Classic Suburban Conference foes. Richfield has technically won the past two meetings. The Spartans pulled off a 32-14 upset in 2007 and was retroactively awarded a victory in 2008 (originally a 31-6 loss) after Mahtomedi discovered it was using an ineligible player.
It's always a treat to cover a game at Mahtomedi, which ranks in my top-5 for metro-area stadiums along with Anoka, Hastings, St. Paul Central and Minnetonka. The Zephyrs' field sits atop a hill on the school's west side. And a water tower on the north side solidifies the small town feel.
While playing football at St. Paul Johnson in 1993, I took part in a preseason scrimmage at Mahtomedi. I think the year before is when one of our guys, Isreal, put a crackback block on a guy (still legal at the prep level) and knocked him into another century. Word is, the hit just stopped the whole play cold. Legend is, the echo of the hit can still be heard around those parts. I'll keep my ears open tonight...
