stillwatergazette . com Stillwater Ponies Football Preview • Friday , August 23 , 2024 Page 13
NOTEBOOK Ponies add to rich tradition
BY STUART GROSKREUTZ THE GAZETTE
Stillwater has a rich tradition in football and when the Ponies advanced to the state tournament a year ago it marked the program ’ s 21st state appearance according to the Minnesota State High School League , which is the second most among schools currently playing in the largest class for football .
Eden Prairie , which has captured 11 state championships and finished as the runner-up three times , has qualified for the state tournament 26 times .
Cretin-Derham Hall no longer competes with the state ’ s largest schools , but has advanced to state 23 times . Totino-Grace won the Class 6A state title in 2016 and has made 27 state appearances , but most of those trips came while competing in a lower-enrollment class .
The Ponies have won four state championships in football , each under legendary coach George Thole . The Ponies won their first state title over Richfield 20-17 in 1975 and followed with additional state championships in 1982 , 1984 and 1995 .
This year marks 40 years since Stillwater defeated Burnsville 36- 33 in a memorable back-and-forth Prep Bowl thriller in 1984 .
The Ponies and Wayzata rank second behind Eden Prairie among the state ’ s largest schools with four state titles apiece .
Stillwater has claimed 16 section titles in school history , starting in 1984 when state qualifiers were determined for the first time by section playoffs rather than finishing as a conference champion . The Ponies added additional section titles in 1985 , 1986 , 1987 , 1988 , 1989 , 1990 , 1991 , 1992 , 1993 , 1995 , 1996 , 2005 , 2006 , 2022 and 2023 .
Power of Influence
Ponies coach Beau LaBore was presented the Jerry Kill Power of Influence Award during the 60th Annual Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Banquet in April .
The award honors a Minnesota head coach for “ effect on his players , school and community .” La- Bore also becomes eligible for the national Power of Influence Award that is presented by the American Football Coaches Association and the American Football Coaches Foundation .
LaBore has compiled a 73-51 record in 13 seasons leading the Ponies . Only hall-of-fame coach George Thole — with a gaudy 257- 69-2 record from 1971 to 1999 — has won more games among the at
See Notebook , Page 14
Stillwater football coaches
Coach Years Record Unknown ................................. 1895-1901 ......................... 23-16 No season 1902-08 Myron Leslie ................................. 1909 ............................... 3-2 Guy VandeBogart .......................... 1910 ............................... 2-4 Earl Ramharter ........................... 1911-12 ............................. 5-5 Leslie Morse ................................. 1913 ............................. 4-2-1 Unknown ...................................... 1914 ............................... 3-4 Reub Parker .................................. 1915 ............................... 1-4 Ross Young .......................... 1916-17 , 20-22 .................... 20-6-2 Unknown ...................................... 1918 ............................... 0-1 Albert Loos ................................... 1919 ............................. 1-4-1 Veryl Ebert ................................. 1923-25 .......................... 16-5-1 Vic Dunder ................................. 1926-29 ......................... 16-11-3 Len Meffert ................................ 1930-39 ......................... 42-28-3 Phil Balfi ori ................................ 1940-44 ......................... 20-15-4 George Nielson .......................... 1945-47 .......................... 14-7-2 Fritz Bierhaus ................................ 1948 ............................... 1-7 Carl Arnold .................................... 1949 ............................... 2-6 Glen Tews ..................................... 1950 ............................. 3-4-1 Bernie Cole ................................ 1951-58 ......................... 25-36-3 Joe Samuelson .......................... 1959-64 .......................... 8-39-1 Carver Fouks ............................. 1965-70 ......................... 20-30-3 George Thole ............................. 1971-99 ........................ 257-69-2 Scott Hoffman ............................ 2000-10 ........................... 64-49 Beau LaBore .......................... 2011-present ....................... 73-51
Total 624-409-30
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