Spartans Blanked by Zephyrs

After getting shut out by a highly-ranked opponent for the second straight week, the toughest part of the Spartans football schedule is clearly behind them.

But first-year head coach Rex Smith is more concerned about his team than the quality of its opponents.

“It doesn't get easier, because we've been beating ourselves,” King said. “Our goal is to be able to play with those great teams.”

So far, that hasn't happened. After losing their season opener 42-0 to St. Thomas Academy a week ago, the Spartans lost 28-0 to No. 3 Mahtomedi on Friday night.

King said turnovers played a huge role in the latest defeat.

“We turned the ball over four times,” King said. “Mistakes are really hurting us.”

In addition to the turnovers, the Spartans made a number of other costly miscues, including two on potential momentum-changing plays early in the third quarter.

After Mahtomedi had built a 14-0 halftime lead—with both scores coming on long fades from quarterback Jordan Goodmanson to receiver Michael Harris—the Spartans seemed to have come up with a key defensive stand with a little under nine minutes left in the third quarter. But when Mahtomedi lined up to punt on fourth down, Simley had trouble getting the right personnel—or enough players—onto the field. The Zephyrs faked the kick and picked up the first down, so instead of getting off the field, the Spartans defense was backed up in the shadow of its own end zone.

Mahtomedi scored later in the period on an eight-yard pass from Goodmanson to Matt Bonine to take a 21-0 lead, and tacked on a fourth touchdown—an eight-yard run by Jackson Hull—in the fourth quarter.

On their ensuing possession, the Spartans completed a long pass play from Nick Wanzek to Micah Barnes with just over two minutes left in the quarter. But the play was called back due to a penalty, erasing what would have been Simley's only trip to the red zone for the game.

The Zephyrs also cost themselves some scoring chances with ill-timed penalties.

“Offensively we shot ourselves in the foot a couple times,” coach Dave Muetzel said. “Defensively we just played very well-disciplined.”

Friday was the Zephyrs' first game on their new field turf at George Smith Field, and Muetzel said the win was a great way to inaugurate the new complex.

“The kids were excited and the community was excited to be a part of this,” Muetzel said. “For our first time out here, it was a fun atmosphere. The kids had fun and I think the community had fun.”