Stillwater made replacing several key players look easy in its season-opening win Thursday night, thumping Eagan 36-7 in an East Metro District interdivisional matchup at Eagan High School.  

The Ponies graduated starters at quarterback and running back, along with five of their leading tacklers, but received impressive performances from first-year starting quarterback Grayson Hosch and running back Mason Green -- as well as their entire defense -- to help erase concerns about the team’s transition entering this season.

Hosch threw two touchdowns while Green ran for 126 yards and a TD, but it was the defense that had Stillwater coach Beau LaBore talking after the game.  

“Our guys came out, did a pretty good job against the run,” LaBore said succinctly, adding that his team also kept Wildcats senior signal-caller Gus Kluender in check. 

“Kluender is a nifty quarterback, so he put some stress on the defense,” LaBore added. 

The Ponies also put pressure on Kluender, intercepting four passes and holding him to 120 passing yards. 

Defensive back Austin Murr picked off two passes and gave credit to his teammates for allowing Stillwater to capitalize on Kluender’s mistakes.

“Our (defensive) linemen pressured the ball, and (Kluender) made some throws that we made some plays on and that’s about it,” Murr said. 

Murr and senior defensive back Thomas Bruchu, who also had an interception on Thursday, played regularly in half of last season’s games, and the pair bring much-needed veteran leadership to the defense.

Both were also members of the Stillwater hockey team that took fourth place at the Class 2A state tournament in March. 

“If we have experience anywhere, it’s at defensive back, so it was nice to see…our experience come through,” LaBore said. 

The ability of the Ponies offense and defense to complement each other was also a factor in the victory, Murr said.

“We gave them field position, and they did what they should do: score,” he added.

Part of that scoring onslaught came from Hosch’s arm, as he showed serious moxie in his first varsity start. 

“Right as I stepped on the field, I was nervous, everyone was nervous,” Hosch said with a grin. “But after that first drive, it was feeling pretty dang good.” 

Hosch also wasn’t feeling much pressure elsewhere, which resulted in his success. 

“The offensive line gave me time, and if they give you time, it’s not that hard.”     

Senior quarterback and first-year starter Grayson Hosch finished with 120 passing yards and tossed two touchdowns as Stillwater rolled to a 36-7 win over Eagan on Thursday night at Eagan High School. 

Junior running back Mason Green ran for 126 yards and a touchdown for the Ponies, who also got 59 yards and a TD on the ground from junior Matt Crowell. 

The Stillwater defense intercepted Eagan quarterback Gus Kluender four times, including two by senior defensive back Austin Murr. 

The Ponies (1-0) also forced a safety in the first quarter for the game’s first points.  

Eisley Nkwonta scored the lone touchdown for the Wildcats (0-1) from 8 yards out in the third quarter.