Football Friday: Stillwater at Roseville

The Ponies are playing for momentum, with a chance to roll into the playoffs on a three-game winning streak. The Raiders are still playing for playoff position, but moving up is a long shot.

LAST WEEK

Stillwater (4-2, 4-2 Suburban East) dumped East Ridge 33-6; Roseville (2-4, 2-4 Suburban East) fell to Woodbury 37-24.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

-Stillwater (2AAAAA)

In theory, the Ponies could still overtake Mounds View for the No. 2 seed. But for that to happen the Mustangs would have to lose to either Forest Lake or Park, teams with a combined 2-10 record. So the Ponies are all but locked in the third seed and a likely first-round matchup with Tartan.

-Roseville (2AAAAA)

The Raiders need at least one more win to climb out of the seventh position, but with Stillwater and Cretin-Derham Hall left on their schedule, one win is a pretty tall order. Look for Roseville to be the No. 7 seed and be on the road against Mounds View in the first round.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

-Nate Ricci (Stillwater)

Ricci stepped in during the second half last week—completing 4-of-5 passes for 93 yards and a score—but he also did all kinds of damage on the ground, rushing for 194 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 16 carries, a 12.1 average.

-Nick Anderson (Stillwater, running back)

Anderson also topped the century mark last Friday night, finishing with 102 yards and a touchdown.

-Emeche Wells (Roseville, receiver)

Wells led the Raiders with six catches for 105 yards Friday night.

-Matthew Peckham (Roseville, receiver)

Peckham also came close to the 100-yard mark, with 97 yards on four receptions.

-Jacques Parra (Roseville, quarterback)

Parra had a busy night in the passing game, going 18-for-43 for 301 yards and three touchdowns—to three different receivers—Friday night.

PONIES WIN IF …

They can stop Emeche Wells. Wells has been the Raiders' best offensive weapon by far this season, piling up more than 900 combined rushing and receiving yards through six games. Keeping Wells under wraps would go a long way toward putting this one in the win column for the Ponies.

RAIDERS WIN IF …

They show up in the second half. Roseville has been a solid first-half team so far this season, but has struggled repeatedly after intermission. They led Hastings 17-0 at the half and held on for a 17-14 win. They were within six points of Mounds View at the half and lost by 20. It happened again last week, when they were within one point early in the third quarter before losing by two touchdowns.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

• SITE: Roseville High School
• TIME: 7 p.m. Friday
• WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly clear, 52 and windy
• LAST SEASON: Stillwater 34, Roseville 7

STILLWATER SCHEDULE

Sept. 2:

Sept. 9:

Sept. 16:

Sept. 23:

Sept. 30:

Oct. 7:

Friday, Oct. 14 at Roseville, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 19 vs. Hastings, 7 p.m.

ROSEVILLE SCHEDULE

Sept. 2: White Bear Lake 28, ROSEVILLE 13

Sept. 9: ROSEVILLE 48, Park 23

Sept. 16: Roseville 17, HASTINGS 14

Sept. 23: MOUNDS VIEW 27, Roseville 7

Sept. 30: Forest Lake 43, ROSEVILLE 42 (OT)

Oct. 7: WOODBURY 37, Roseville 24

Friday, Oct. 14 vs. Stillwater, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Cretin-Derham Hall, 7 p.m.