Gridiron Finale: Stillwater Hosts Hastings Wednesday to Wrap up the Regular Season

High school football teams gearing up to play Wednesday night can mean only one thing: The end of the regular season is here, and the start of the playoffs is just around the corner.

Some teams' playoff fate—good or bad—is already sealed at this point, and they are just playing out the schedule. For other teams, Wednesday's contests could go a long way toward determining whether this season is looked back on as a success or failure.

Stillwater (5-2) went on the road to beat Roseville 28-25; Hastings (2-5 Suburban East) lost to White Bear Lake 7-3.

-Nate Ricci (Stillwater)

Ricci rushed for 126 yards on 21 carries last week.

-Tyler Mellick (Hastings, running back)

Mellick rushed for 124 yards on 32 carries, but was held out of the end zone a week ago.

They will be the No. 3 seed for the Section 2AAAAA playoffs, and will host Tartan in the first round. Even if the Ponies lose, a few other things will have to break the right way to dislodge them from that position.

They guarantee themselves a home game in the first round of the Section 4AAAAA playoffs. Hastings could climb as high as third, but could also slide as far as seventh with a loss. Potential first-round opponents include East Ridge, Eagan and Minneapolis South.

• SITE:
• TIME: 7 p.m. Wednesday
• WEATHER FORECAST: 44 and partly cloudy
• LAST SEASON: Stillwater 42, Hastings 13

Sept. 2:

Sept. 9:

Sept. 16:

Sept. 23:

Sept. 30:

Oct. 7:

Oct. 14:

Oct. 19: STILLWATER vs. Hastings, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2: Mounds View 13, HASTINGS 6

Sept. 9: WOODBURY 29, Hastings 23

Sept. 16: Roseville Area 17, HASTINGS 14

Sept. 23: CRETIN-DERHAM HALL 27, Hastings 13

Sept. 30: Hastings 9, EAST RIDGE 0

Oct. 7: HASTINGS 34, Park 14

Oct. 14: White Bear Lake 7, HASTINGS 3

Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Stillwater, 7 p.m.