Stillwater football remains undefeated, beats Forest Lake

Both teams came into Friday night with high aspirations after starting the year 5-0. 

Stillwater struck first with a 15-yard touchdown from Max Shikenjanski to favorite weapon Joseph Hoheisel. Running back Leyton Patzer scored next on a 30-yard touchdown, and the game was tied at seven after the first quarter.

The second quarter would prove the difference in the game for the Ponies. Shikenjanski scored with two minutes, 23 seconds left in the second quarter and went up in the game 13-7 after a missed extra point. 

Forest Lake got the ball back and drove down to the two yard line of Stillwater with a huge opportunity to take a half time lead. Forest Lake went with a wildcat formation and the center ultimately made a poor snap that pushed them out of scoring range. 

Stillwater marched down the field and scored on another 2-yard rush by Shikenjanski to put Stillwater up 20-7 at the half. The botched snap ended up being a 14 point swing right before the half.

Stillwater played keep-away much of the third quarter. Sam Young ran in a two yard touchdown and the Ponies went up 27-7 with 3:02 left in the third quarter.

Forest Lake scored on a Patzer to Johnson 9-yard touchdown with 5:39 left in the fourth quarter. Forest Lake recovered the ensuing onside kick and had another opportunity to score late in the fourth quarter. Forest Lake brought out the wildcat formation again and fumbled deep in Stillwater territory, essentially ending the game.

Stillwater changes up its offensive game plan

Stillwater, known for its high-flying passing attack, was extremely run-centric against Forest Lake. 

Shikenjanski was under center and Stillwater employed a power running attack that threw Forest Lake off the entire game. Shikenjanski ran in a pair of two yard touchdowns by quarterback sneaks, and running back Young was gouging the Forest Lake defense. Shikenjanski ended the game with one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns.

The Stillwater offense set the tone early in the game and converted a long third down play on a draw by Young. That play seemed to shock Forest Lake, and it did not have an answer for Young. 

Stillwater finished with its lowest point total output of the season at 27. 

Head coach Beau LaBore said after the game that they wanted to, “take what they gave them,” and their game plan adjusted successfully, showing that Stillwater can win in a multitude of ways.

 Shikenjanski produces lowest passing output of the season

It’s no coincidence that the focus on the run game led to the worst passing output of the year for Shikenjanski. Shikenjanski ran in two short touchdowns but was limited to under 200 yards passing and the trademark long passes were nowhere to be seen against Forest Lake.

Shikenjanski was extremely effective through the air with minimal incompletions. Forest Lake's defense was playing the pass all game, and if it had scored in the red zone, would have forced Stillwater to likely open the offense back up through the air.

Forest Lake in high spirits after loss

Nothing should be taken away from the Rangers in this game. Forest Lake held Stillwater’s vaunted passing attack to its lowest output of the year and had multiple opportunities to win a close game. No one predicted that Forest Lake would be 5-1 this late into the season, and it showed that it can compete with a top level team such as Stillwater.

Head coach Brad Beeskow said after the game: “You learn how to not let one play dictate the whole gam. .. You learn how much you have to do to win a game.” 

The players for Forest Lake were listening closely, but no one on the team seemed to be dejected by a close loss to a great Stillwater team. Beeskow said to the team that “the season’s not over,” and “you have so much potential left in this season.”