stillwatergazette . com Stillwater Ponies Football Preview • Friday , August 23 , 2024 Page 5
OUTLOOK
( Continued from page 4 )
Stillwater has won 11 of its last 12 games against the Rangers and leads the all-time series 26-7 , but last year ’ s win did not come easy .
The Ponies prevailed in a 21- 17 thriller that finished after midnight due to a lengthy interruption due to storms .
Injuries and a largely youthful lineup led to some lumps for Week 6 foe White Bear Lake on the way to a 3-6 ( 1-4 ) season , but that experience should lead to an improved squad in 2024 .
The Bears graduated top rusher Kesean Lipscomb , but junior quarterback Tomi Animasaun gained valuable experience last season .
There is also plenty of excitement in White Bear Lake as the Bears unveil their impressive new stadium on their new unified campus , though the Ponies will have to wait at least another year to play at the new site .
Stillwater defeated the Bears 38-14 last season as the teams extended what is believed to be the most-played rivalry in the state at 106 previous meetings . The Ponies have won 15 of the last 18 and leads 62-41-3 since they started playing in 1914 .
Week 7 opponent Edina defeated the Ponies twice along the way to its first-ever Prep Bowl a year ago . The Hornets ( 9-4 ) topped Stillwater 14-7 in the regular season and then pulled away for a 49-21 victory when they met again in the state quarterfinals .
A failed two-point conversion with just 16 seconds remaining against Centennial was the only thing standing between Edina and a state championship .
Quarterback Mason West did not play like a sophomore while leading the Hornets a year ago , but they will miss workhorse running back John Warpinski and talented receiver Sonny Villegas .
Edina is expected to return receiver / tight end Meyer Swinney and receiver Trillion Sorrell , who combined for 101 receptions , 1,534 yards and 18 touchdowns last season . Swinney is a University of California football recruit .
The Hornets also bring back some key performers on defense , led by linebacker Chase Bjorgaard , defensive lineman Sawyer Jezierski and cornerback Liam Holmbert .
This season will mark just the fifth meeting between these teams , with Edina holding a 3-1 advantage .
Although no longer a conference opponent because the Wolfpack compete in Metro Maroon Sub-District , Stillwater cruised past Park 58-20 a year ago .
Since losing to the Wolfpack in 2007 , Stillwater has won each of the last five games in a series the Ponies lead 34-10 all-time .
See Outlook , Page 6
2024 Metro East Sub-District schedule
Thursday , August 29 * Stillwater at Lakeville North * Roseville at Woodbury * Mounds View at Farmington * East Ridge at Park * Minnetonka at White Bear Lake * Forest Lake at Prior Lake
Thursday , September 5 Woodbury at Stillwater White Bear Lake at Mounds View Friday , September 6 East Ridge at Forest Lake
Friday , September 13 Stillwater at East Ridge Woodbury at White Bear Lake Forest Lake at Mounds View
Friday , September 20 Mounds View at Stillwater Forest Lake at White Bear Lake East Ridge at Woodbury
Thursday , September 27 Stillwater at Forest Lake White Bear Lake at East Ridge Woodbury at Mounds View
Friday , October 4 White Bear Lake at Stillwater Mounds View at East Ridge Forest Lake at Woodbury
Thursday , October 10 * Stillwater at Edina Friday , October 11 * East Ridge at Lakeville North * Roseville at White Bear Lake * Mounds View at Park * Prior Lake at Woodbury * Eagan at Forest Lake
Thursday , October 17 * Park at Stillwater * Woodbury at Eden Prairie , 6 p . m . * White Bear Lake at Osseo , noon * STMA at Mounds View , 1 p . m . * Rochester Mayo at Woodbury * Roseville at Forest Lake
Section playoff dates Semifinals — Friday , Oct . 25 Finals — Friday , Nov . 1
State tournament dates Quarterfinals — Nov . 7-9 Semifinals — Nov . 14-16 at U . S . Bank Stadium Prep Bowl — Nov . 22-23 at U . S . Bank Stadium
All games at 7 p . m . ( unless noted ) * Denotes non-Metro East game
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