Orioles Knocked Out Of Section Playoffs By Simley

Simley High’s Spartans played perhaps their best game of the season and rolled over visiting , 49-13, in the Section 3AAAA football playoffs Tuesday night.

It was the third straight decisive win for the surging Spartans.

Simley (4-5) will play top-seeded St. Thomas Academy (8-0) Saturday at Mendota Heights in a game kicking off at 1 p.m. The second-ranked Cadets blanked Simley, 42-0, in the first game of the season.

Simley spotted St. Louis Park a 6-0 lead after a fumble gave the Orioles possession at the Simley 35-yard line. One play later, Orioles quarterback Jacolbi Courington-Meier passed to Jordan Young for a 35-yard touchdown.

The Spartans then scored 49 unanswered points.

Spartans junior quarterback Nick Wanzek ran for three touchdowns and passed for another to lead Simley. Wanzek scored on 3- and 6-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter, broke off a 38-yard scoring run in the second, and passed 11 yards to junior tight end Eric Jones in the third quarter for another touchdown.

The Spartans led 35-6 at the half and 42-6 after three quarters.

St. Louis Park senior Desmon Martin scored on an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

St. Louis Park ends its season at 3-6. It was the first year under new head coach , and the Orioles did improve by one win over last year.