Mahtomedi Zephyrs running back T.J. Tumbleson rumbles for a big rush after slipping the grasp of Park Wolfpack defender Marnez Trotter in the first quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Mahtomedi Zephyrs running back Jalen Frye fights off a tackle from Park Wolfpack defensive back Joe Timp on his way to a touchdown in the first quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpack running back Noah Johnson leaps over the attempted leg tackle of Mahtomedi Zephyrs defender Spencer Scott in the third quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpack quarterback Brandon Alt throws the ball against the Mahtomedi Zephyrs in the third quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Mahtomedi Zephyrs wide receiver Evan Reyes intercepts the ball intended for Park Wolfpack wide receiver Marnez Trotter in the fourth quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Mahtomedi Zephyrs running back T.J. Tumbleson fumbles the ball as he is hit by Park Wolfpack running back Lucas Liljedahl in the third quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Mahtomedi Zephyrs running back Jalen Frye rushes for a first down against the Park Wolfpack in the third quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpack quarterback Brandon Alt is tackled for a safety by Mahtomedi Zephyrs linebacker Graham Devore in the third quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpacks Grant Glazier races for 75 yard touchdown against the Mahtomedi Zephyrs after getting the great down field block from running back Noah Johnson (12) the third quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Mahtomedi Zephyrs running back T.J. Tumbleson gets a pat on the head form running back Jalen Frye after rushing for a 1 yard touchdown in the second quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
A flag team member performs during half-time at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpack running back Lucas Liljedahl fights off Mahtomedi Zephyrs wide receiver Chase Sullivan and gets into the endzone in the second quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpack wide receiver Jake Hoge lowers his head as he tries to plow through Mahtomedi Zephyrs linebacker Kaleb Siekmeier in the first quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpack running back Noah Johnson gets flipped up by Mahtomedi Zephyrs wide receiver Evan Reyes after picking up a first down in the first quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Park Wolfpack wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu crosses the goal line after getting past Mahtomedi Zephyrs defender Evan Reyes in the first quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Mahtomedi Zephyrs wide receiver Andy Voyen stiff arms Park Wolfpack wide receiver Jake Hoge as he fights his way into the endzone in the third quarter at Wolf Pack stadium at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. With combined nearly 1100 yards of offense Mahtomedi beat Park, 50-40.(Pioneer Press: John Autey)
Ninety points, more than 1,100 total yards and three hours and 15 minutes later, Mahtomedi is still undefeated.
The Zephyrs (7-0) won a track meet disguised as a football game on Friday night, topping Park 50-40 in Cottage Grove.
They did so with their horses pulling the cart. Senior running back Jalen Frye rushed for 290 yards and four touchdowns on 38 carries. Most of his yardage came with senior fullback T.J. Tumbleson leading the way. Other times, it was Tumbleson toting the rock. He had a day himself, recording 197 yards and a score on 19 carries, punishing Park’s defense in the second half with his tough running.
“Our goal is just to try to mix it up a little bit,” Zephyrs coach Dave Muetzel said. “Our guys up front did a very good job where we could get to the second level an awful lot without getting touched. The line, and also T.J. blocking in front of Frye led to a lot. … That allowed T.J. to get loose a few times, as well.”
Led by its rushing attack, Mahtomedi tallied 569 yards of total offense. Andy Voyen caught two touchdown passes from senior quarterback Anthony Praml.
“The key was the offensive line,” Frye said. “We always tell them it starts with them. They had our back the whole time.”
Mahtomedi’s offensive outburst was no surprise to Park coach Darin Glazier. He figured the Wolfpack defense might have a tough time matching up with Frye’s quickness and Tumbleson’s physicality.
“Your offense needs to score on every possession when you have an offense like theirs that we were having trouble stopping,” Glazier said. “We felt like we had to be perfect on offense and we had to be perfect in all other phases of the game, and that didn’t happen.”
It almost did. Park (5-2) racked up 549 yards of offense, led by senior quarterback Brandon Alt. Alt threw for 391 yards and four touchdowns while also running for a score. He spread the ball around, with senior running back Lucas Liljedahl finishing with 145 total yards and two touchdowns and junior receiver Grant Glazier, Darin’s son, catching seven passes for 147 yards and two scores.
“(Alt) played the way we expect him to play every week,” Glazier said. “He’s one of the best in the state, and he shows it every time he comes out here.”
But Park’s miscues proved costly. The Wolfpack committed nine penalties, surrendered a safety and generated just seven points off of three Mahtomedi fumbles in the second half.
“I knew stepping on the field that we can’t make one error to beat this team,” Alt said. “This team is one hell of a team and to beat this team you can’t make any errors, drop balls, none of that. You have to be (darn) near perfect to beat this team. They’re pretty good. They deserve to be undefeated.”
Previously, Mahtomedi’s defense looked to be one of the top units in Class 5A, though its offense looked like the superior unit on Friday. Regardless of how the victory was earned, Muetzel was pleased.
“I enjoy when we’re on top at the end, especially against a good team like Park,” he said. “This was one that I knew was going to be a dogfight.”
Mahtomedi’s win has the Zephyrs, who went .500 in the regular season in 2015, just one game away from a perfect regular season. That would guarantee them at least a split of the East Metro Red subdistrict title with South St. Paul (7-0). Those teams won’t face each other in the regular season.
South St. Paul plays Hill-Murray on Wednesday, while Mahtomedi travels to Simley.
“(The undefeated season) means a lot, but we’ve got our minds focused on the ultimate goal, which is a state championship,” Frye said. “So we keep our grind, give our glory to the Lord and we just keep pounding.”