FINAL: Stillwater Beats Mounds View 17-14

The Ponies broke out the traditional black pants and red jerseys for the first time Friday night and beat Mounds View 17-14 in a hard-fought battle in the Suburban East Conference.

With Nate Ricci, Derrick Thingvold and Danny Buege on the sideline in street clothes, the No. 4-ranked Mustangs jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead at Pony Stadium.

But that was all the scoring the Ponies defense would allow.

The Ponies defense clamped down on Mounds View and Danny Laudet made a 36-yard field goal to put the Ponies on top for good with 54 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

With Ricci out, Stillwater running back Nick Anderson took over, rushing for 204 yards on 37 carries and a touchdown.

“Usually, when we’re not moving the ball on offense, we depend on Nate to figure something out,” Coach Beau LaBore told the Star Tribune. “Tonight, our line dug deep and Nick ran like a beast.”

The two teams went into halftime tied 14-14, and defenses took over in the second half.

Late in the fourth quarter, Mounds View running back Austin Smestad put the ball on the ground and Stillwater linebacker Matt Ogren recovered, setting up Laudet’s game-winning field goal.

With under a minute left, the Mustangs moved the ball down field, but with 4 seconds left on the clock, Connor O’Neill blocked Mounds View’s field goal attempt.

The Ponies improve to 4-1 and sit on top of the Suburban East Conference. Stillwater heads to Woodbury next week to play East Ridge (3-2).

UPDATED FROM Friday, 3 p.m.

To say the Ponies showdown with undefeated Mounds View tonight at Pony Stadium is a huge game is probably an understatement.

The Ponies come into tonight’s game with a 3-1 record, one game behind a division-leading Mounds View (4-0) in the Suburban East Conference.

Mounds View has gotten the better of the Ponies—leading a series that dates back to 1956, 23-12—including a last-second touchdown that knocked the Ponies out of the playoffs last year.

The Ponies pounded Forest Lake 48-0 last week. If you haven’t seen the .

According to the Stillwater Gazette, the playing status of quarterback Nate Ricci and two offensive lineman is uncertain.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Stillwater Patch is proud to bring you a livestreaming video broadcast from Pony Stadium, courtesy of the Ponies Touchdown Club. Of course, we encourage folks to attend the game and show the athletes your support.

You can also click here to watch the livestream on the Ponies official team website. Play-by-play will be provided by KLBB's Tim Daigle. The broadcast will start about 30 minutes before game time.

Keep up with the Ponies this season by following @Ponies_Football on Twitter, or liking the Ponies Football Facebook page.

Click here to read stories about some of the Ponies volunteer efforts during the off-season.

You can also listen to the game on the radio by tuning into KLBB AM-1220. 

Schedule:

Aug. 31: at Woodbury 7 p.m. (W, 20-18)

Sept. 7: White Bear Lake 7 p.m. (W, 28-19)

Sept. 14: at Cretin Derham Hall 7 p.m. (L, 27-13)

Sept. 21: Forest Lake 7 p.m. (48-0)

Sept. 28: Mounds View 7 p.m. (Hall of Fame Night)

Oct. 5: at East Ridge 7 p.m.

Oct. 12: Roseville 7 p.m. (Senior Night)

Oct. 17: at Hastings 7 p.m.