The Stillwater football team snapped a 10-game losing streak to Hastings and captured the Suburban East Conference championship at McNamara Stadium in what is arguably the Ponies' greatest comeback. The Ponies have erased three 14-point deficits in the second half since 1971, but the Red and Black rallied for 28 points in less than six minutes of the final period to overcome a 17-point deficit against the Raiders. Outplayed through three-and-a-half quarters and trailing 20-3, the Ponies wore down the Raiders, who could have earned a share of the title with a win. The Stillwater defense did not allow a single first down on five Hastings possessions during the comeback, led by tacklers Ryan Belt, Andy Staberg, and Chris Aamodt, who combined for 32 total tackles, and the offense followed suit. The rally opened and closed with touchdown runs by Matt O'Keefe who shared the backfield workload with Kyle Peterson. The second touchdown was set up with a run by Peterson and a catch by Andrew Warren, allowing quarterback Connor Anderson to finish the three-play, 51-yard scoring drive on a sneak from two yards out. Unrelenting, junior Tony Brown returned an ensuing punt 65 yards for a touchdown to give Stillwater its first lead of the game at 24-20 with 2:44 left on the clock. An interception by Pat Kopesky paved the way for another score as the Ponies pulled away. A total team comeback victory was almost expected for a team commonly referred to as the "Cardiac Kids." The victory led to an outright SEC title -- the Big Red's 25th conference crown in 35 seasons – and sprung the Ponies into the playoffs before eventually advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 1996.