Football Friday: Stillwater Hosts East Ridge for Homecoming

East Ridge at Stillwater

The Ponies need to regain some momentum, while the Raptors look to find some semblance of an offense after getting shut out for the second time in three weeks last Friday.

LAST WEEK

East Ridge (1-4, 1-4 Suburban East) got blanked by Hastings 9-0; Stillwater (3-2, 3-2 Suburban East) fell to Mounds View 21-14.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

-Stillwater (Section 2, Class AAAAA)

The Ponies are in a section that uses a mathematical formula to determine seeding. The QRF system—short for Quality Results Formula—rates teams based on wins and losses, opponents' wins and losses, and class differential. So while the Ponies have one more loss than both Mounds View and White Bear Lake, they are currently second, behind Totino-Grace, in the section seedings.

-East Ridge (Section 4, Class AAAAA)

Despite their 1-4 record, the Raptors are currently the No. 4 seed. But with less than a point separating No. 3 Eagan and No. 5 Minneapolis South, that's hardly set in stone.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

-Nick Leach (East Ridge, running back)

Leach had 75 yards on 17 carries for the Raptors last Friday night.

-Nate Ricci (Stillwater, quarterback, wide receiver)

Ricci was the starting QB for the Ponies until last week, when he moved to receiver and caught five passes for 102 yards.

-Aaron Romportl (Stillwater, quarterback)

Ricci's replacement threw for 135 yards and a score, but also threw three interceptions.

PONIES WIN IF …

Stillwater is only a game over .500 so far, but has a chance to go into the post season on a real roll. The Ponies' last three regular-season opponents—East Ridge, Roseville and Hastings—are a combined 4-11 on the season, and Stillwater will be a heavy favorite in all three games. Three wins will give them a high seed for the playoffs. Three decisive wins will give them a good seed and a whole bunch of momentum.

RAPTORS WIN IF …

They can score some points, something they haven't had much luck with so far. The Raptors have scored just 55 points in regulation in five games, and more than half of those came in their 28-10 win over Forest Lake on Sept. 9. There have been too many three-and-outs, resulting in the defense have to spend a lot more time on the field than it should. That trend has to change if the Raptors are going to be anything more than a one-and-done team in the post season.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

• SITE: Stillwater High School
• TIME: 7 p.m. Friday
• WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly cloudy and 75
• LAST SEASON: Friday is the first-ever meeting between the schools.

STILLWATER SCHEDULE

Sept. 2:

Sept. 9:

Sept. 16:

Sept. 23:

Sept. 30:

Friday, Oct. 7 vs. East Ridge, 7 p.m.

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

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

EAST RIDGE SCHEDULE

Sept. 2: CRETIN-DERHAM HALL 27, East Ridge 6

Sept. 9: EAST RIDGE 28, Forest Lake 10

Sept. 16: Mounds View 17, EAST RIDGE 0

Sept. 23: WOODBURY 35, East Ridge 34 (2OT)

Sept. 30: Hastings 9, EAST RIDGE 0

Friday, Oct. 7 at Stillwater, 7 p.m.

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

Wednesday, Oct. 19 vs. White Bear Lake, 7 p.m.