Mahtomedi returns to Prep Bowl for first time since unthinkable defeat in ’07

Players on this year’s Mahtomedi football team were likely just learning to walk when it happened, but they are about be part of their program’s first appearance at the Prep Bowl since an unthinkable, remarkable, last-second play nobody who saw will ever forget.

In 2007, Totino-Grace beat Mahtomedi 13-8 for the Class 4A title. On the final play, a bouncing ball thrown toward the sideline ricocheted off two players and landed with T-G’s Micah Koehn, who streaked untouched into the end zone – flipping over the goal line – for the title-winning points.

Click the video box on this page to watch Prep Bowl preview interviews with the Mahtomedi Zephyrs

This year’s 10-2 Zephyr squad are unranked and are considered to be underdogs as they prepare to face #1-ranked and undefeated Mankato West for the Class 5A title on Saturday night.

They advanced to get their title shot via a pair of decisive victories in their first two games at State. They beat Rochester Mayo 42-20 in the State Quarterfinals then ran away from Robbinsdale Cooper 34-7 in last week’s State Semifinal.

Mahtomedi teams have toured the Cities’ premier sports venues playing for – and winning – State Championships the last couple years.

The Zephyrs won the 2020 State Hockey Tournament title at the Xcel Energy Center, claimed the State Baseball Tournament title at Target Field last spring, and are now playing for 2021’s Football Tournament Championship at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Watch the Prep Bowl this weekend on 45TV or stream it free on 45TV.com