By STUART GROSKREUTZ
October 21, 2011

After knocking off Hastings 28-7 in Wednesday's regular season finale, the Stillwater football team will open Section 2AAAAA play by hosting sixth-seeded Tartan in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at Pony Stadium.

The Titans (4-4) were handed a 61-7 loss by highly regarded South St. Paul in their Classic Suburban East Conference game on Wednesday. Three of Tartan's four losses under first-year head coach Tim Murtha have come against teams that are are were ranked in Class AAAA, including Mahtomedi (19-7), St. Thomas Academy (48-7) and the Packers (61-7). Tartan's other setback was a 28-7 loss against Hill-Murray. Tartan has recorded wins over North Branch, Henry Sibley, Richfield and North St. Paul, which is the No. 8 seed in Section 2AAAAA.

The Ponies (6-2) are 21-3 against Tartan in the all-time series, including a 32-16 triumph in last year's section semifinals. Stillwater also defeated the Titans in the 2006 section finals. Stillwater's only losses this season are to No. 3 ranked Cretin-Derham Hall (34-7) and No. 5 Mounds View (21-14) and will carry a three-game winning streak into the postseason.