Blaine vs. Stillwater
7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31
Blaine had quite a run last fall. The Bengals finished with a 9-3 record and a Class 6A state semifinals appearance, where they fell by just one point to eventual state champion Totino-Grace. It was the Bengals' deepest postseason run since finishing as Class 5A runner-up in 2008.
Ready to prove it wasn't a one-year wonder, Blaine returns this season looking for a repeat while playing a difficult regular-season schedule that includes matchups against powers St. Michael-Albertville, Cretin-Derham Hall and Totino-Grace.
The Bengals begin their quest with a non-district game at Stillwater on Thursday.
The Ponies boast a program that has finished with a winning percentage above .500 in four of the last five seasons and hoping to ride that success through the playoffs this year.