This Friday, October 16 at 7:00 pm, the Stillwater Ponies varsity football team will host the fifth-seeded Champlin Park Rebels at Pony Stadium, in a first round game of the Minnesota State High School 6A Football Tournament.

Overcoming a 1-3 start to the season, the Ponies rolled off four consecutive wins to finish their regular season with a record of 5-3.  Last week the Ponies learned that their three-way tie for second place in the eight-team East Metro-Blue football subdivision earned them the number four seed and a home game.

“Good teams work hard to get better no matter what happens the week before, and that’s just what our guys did to get to this spot,” said Beau LaBore, Ponies Head Coach.  “We asked our team to keep working, keep fighting, don’t lose faith, and things would get better.  And they have.”

Stillwater will play Champlin Park for only the sixth time in the last 23 years, with their last meeting in 1999 resulting in a 21-7 victory for the Rebels.  The Ponies are 2-3 against the Rebels over this period, but this will be the first playoff game between the two teams. 

The 2015 version of the Rebels features a spread offense with an effective inside-zone running game.  The Rebels have found success throwing down-field passes to three wide receivers who are 6’4” or taller.  On defense, Champlin Park has a fast, athletic secondary that plays behind a defensive front that moves to three, four or five down-linemen to attack offenses.

"We will play a very athletic Champlin Park team,” said LaBore.  “Their team speed is as good as any team we have faced outside of East Ridge. We will have to consistently execute well and limit their big plays."

Tickets for the game are available at the High School Activities Office, open this week from 7:00am to 3:30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Pre-game ticket sales begin at 5:30pm on Friday.  Tournament ticket costs are $8 for adults, $6 for K-12 students.  All fans must purchase tickets.  By ruling of the State High School League, school ID badges or other district passes cannot be used for admission to postseason games. 

The winner of the game will face the winner of the Lakeville North / Buffalo game, on Friday, October 23.  The full State Football Tournament bracket for Class 6A can be found on the MSHSL Web site.