Stillwater vs. Forest Lake

7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7

Someone pinch the Forest Lake Rangers. It may feel like they're dreaming. Forest Lake is off to a 5-0 start with as many wins in the past two seasons combined. The Rangers are up to No. 9 in the Sept. 28 Class 6A Associated Press poll. 

It's time for things to get real, though, as all five wins came against teams currently below .500. Two came by one score, but last week saw the Rangers roll up on Hopkins (0-5) by a 72-7 final.

Junior running back Leyton Patzer is the man to watch. He leads Forest Lake with 712 rushing yards on 91 carries (7.8 ypc) with nine touchdowns this season. He's gone for 100-plus yards in every game. Aside from a 3-2 record in the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, Forest Lake clinched its first winning season in this roster's lifetime. First-year head coach Brad Beeskow has the program trending in the right direction.

No. 4-ranked Stillwater (5-0) is a little more battle tested thus far. The Ponies have three wins over teams currently with a 3-2 record. The latest was a 35-28 home win over White Bear Lake to set up this week's anticipated battle of unbeatens.

Senior quarterback Max Shikenjanski has been among the state's best passers, averaging 295.6 yards per game with 17 touchdowns against three interceptions. He went 19 of 31 for 251 yards, four touchdowns and one pick and threw the game-winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter last week. 

The Ponies beat the Rangers 37-6 last year in Stillwater, but they'll be walking into a hornets' nest on Friday.