The schedule didn’t do Stillwater any favors to open the 2025 campaign.
Two of its first three opponents? Defending Class 6A champion Maple Grove and 2024 state semifinalist Shakopee.
Stillwater receiver Chase Edstrom celebrates after a 10-yard receiving touchdown against Maple Grove at Stillwater Area High School on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Jace Frederick / Pioneer Press)
It doesn’t get much more difficult than that, particularly for a program ushering in a new starting quarterback. Nick Kinsey is in Ohio as the result of a family move, which opened the door for Jack Runk to step in under center.
The junior certainly looked the part in Thursday’s season opener. Runk, an all-state shortstop, went 5 for 5 on the game’s opening drive, which ended in a 10-yard scoring strike to senior running back Chase Edstrom to put the Ponies up 7-0.
Maple Grove running back James Engle celebrates after scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown against the Ponies at Stillwater Area High School on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Jace Frederick / Pioneer Press)
The Crimson — the preseason favorites to repeat in Class 6A — eventually found their footing with their ground game. Maple Grove’s offensive line created creases, and senior running back James Engle slashed through them. Engle, who ran for nine scores as a backup last fall, scored two in the first half Thursday in a 37-17 victory to kick off the Crimson’s title defense.
A botched snap by Stillwater on a punt late in the first half led to field goal that put the Crimson up 17-7 at the break. Maple Grove then scored on the opening possession of the third frame to extend the lead to 17, and it looked as though the bout was pretty much over.
But Stillwater answered with a drive on the following possession that resulted in a 26-yard field goal off the foot of Colin Johnston. The Ponies’ defense then delivered a stop, and Stillwater hit a trick play — a double reverse flea flicker — for a 31-yard scoring strike from Runk to Carter Zollar to trim the deficit to 24-17 early in the fourth.
But the Crimson responded as you’d think they would — like champions. Facing a third and long near midfield, Kaden Harney connected with Henry Knutson for a 14-yard completion to move the chains. Two plays later, Jeffrey Norvold sprang loose on a run up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown run that effectively sealed the deal with fewer than 6 minutes to play.
Stillwater turned the ball over on downs on its next possession, setting up a short field that led to one final Maple Grove touchdown as Harney bulled his way into the end zone from 11 yards out. The Crimson looked like a team that will indeed factor heavily into the Class 6A equation this season.
But perhaps the Ponies — a sub-.500 team in 2024 — can, as well. They didn’t look wildly overmatched Thursday. And Runk and Co. were impressive in the passing attack that figures to give opposing secondaries fits all fall.
Stillwater’s early-season schedule may result in a couple unwanted losses on the resume, but should the Ponies stay healthy, these high-end competitions could also potentially lead to growth and an understanding of they’ll need to be by year’s end should they indeed aim to make a deep playoff push.
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