Pre-game jitters are nothing new for Emilio Rosario-Matias, but the Stillwater junior running back felt a bit edgier than usual Friday night. “I always get butterflies before games,” Rosario-Matias said. “But when I take my first hit, I usually calm down. After that first hit (tonight), it didn’t go away. So I knew we had something special going.” Indeed, Rosario-Matias started fast and didn’t slow down, notching a 70-yard touchdown run on the Ponies’ first offensive play from scrimmage — one of three first-half scoring scampers that helped his team build a lead it did not relinquish in a 33-14 Homecoming night win over Mounds View at Pony Stadium. “Our offensive line was able to make those gaps for me, our wide receivers played well and our defense was able to get stops,” said Rosario-Matias, who carried the ball 31 times for 180 yards – including 174 yards in the first half alone. “We just played an overall good team game.” An effort led by Rosario-Matias, whose touchdown runs of 19 and 11 yards put Stillwater on top 23-14 at halftime. “He’s got excellent vision and the quick twitch to actually make the moves,” said Ponies coach Beau LaBore, whose team improved to 3-1, winning its third game in a row. “He’s fun to watch.” Still, there were a few tense moments early. On Mounds View’s first play following Rosario-Matias’ opening touchdown, Mustangs junior Godson Rufus-Okomhanru scampered 80 yards for a touchdown that tied the score 7-7. Then, after forcing a Stillwater punt on the Ponies’ next possession, Mounds View senior Joey Muhlstein blocked the kick. Senior Mitchell Olson recovered the ball in the end zone to put the Mustangs in front 14-7. But Mounds View suffered a big blow when senior quarterback Jacob Sampson left the game due to injury and did not return. “We felt like we were able to respond in the right way,” said Mustangs coach Aaron Moberg, whose team fell to 2-2. “But that’s right around when Jacob went out. “He’s the catalyst of our offense. But obviously, it’s more than just one player and we have to play better across the board.” But it’s hard to stop a running back like Rosario-Matias when he’s rolling, and he was in the first half. His 19-yard touchdown run with 1:39 to play in the first quarter cut the gap to 14-13, then senior Landon Huber connected on a 41-yard field goal early in the second and Stillwater was back on top. Rosario-Matias scored again the next time the Ponies had the ball, powering his way into the end zone from 11 yards out to give his team a nine-point lead going into the locker rooms. “He’s a stud,” Moberg said. “He runs low to the ground. He’s thick. You have to square him up and you have to gang tackle. You can’t arm tackle on him or he’s going to run right through it. “We learned that the hard way tonight.” On Mounds View’s first drive in the third quarter, senior quarterback Jonny Gale — who came on in relief of Sampson — was picked off, setting up a 28-yard field goal by Huber. Another turnover set up Stillwater’s final score. The Ponies recovered a fumble at the Mustangs’ 24-yard line midway through the fourth quarter and junior Nick Kinsey connected with senior Joe Fredkove on a 13-yard touchdown pass. “Our defense has been pretty tough for four weeks now,” LaBore said. “We have all kinds of little things that we can clean up. We’ll be here tomorrow morning doing the work. But this was a nice win.” LaBore’s team – ranked No. 10 in the most recent AP Class 6A state poll – will try to keep the momentum going when they play at Forest Lake next Friday. “This week was a good win and now it’s on to Forest Lake,” said Rosario-Matias, whose team’s only loss was a 27-7 setback at top-ranked Lakeville North in week one. “We’re just trying to take it week-by-week and get to that state championship level.” Related Articles High School Sports | High school football: St. Thomas Academy uses all three phases to down Mahtomedi High School Sports | High school football: Robinson’s late touchdown run helps South St. Paul edge North St. Paul High School Sports | High school football: Tomes, Merchlewitz take over as East Ridge routs Woodbury High School Sports | High school football: Eagan denies Lakeville South with late stops High School Sports | High School Football: Week 4 predictions