Needing a defensive boost to keep its season alive, St. Michael-Albertville got just what the doctor ordered Friday night against Stillwater. The Knights had allowed 129 points in three consecutive losses to end the regular season. But they posted an inspired defensive effort in a 21-14 victory over the Ponies. After starting the regular season with a pair of wins in its first three, St. Michael-Albertville lost four of its final five, being outscored 93-7 over the last two. But none of that mattered on Friday. The Knights posted a shutout in the first half and forced four turnovers in the game, twice turning the Ponies’ offense away late in the game to preserve the win. “It’s been a bad two weeks and nobody wanted to go out sad,” St. Michael-Albertville senior running back Sam Anderson said. “It was good to flip it around. Everyone wanted that, and you could tell with the environment all week.” Stillwater, which won 45-17 over Park of Cottage Grove last week — a win which snapped its own three-game skid — ends its season with a 4-5 record. The Ponies had one final possession with 1:29 left in the game. But Khael Johnson’s diving interception near midfield sealed the win for the Knights, who will face Shakopee in the second round of the Class 6A tournament next Friday. “I’m just really proud about how [our defense] hung in there,” Knights head coach Jared Essler said. “The big thing was, we were plus-three in the turnovers and that’s the equalizer. When the plays were there to be made, we made them.” Anderson did a little bit of everything on Friday, scoring a pair of touchdowns; one an 11-yard reception on the Knights’ opening possession, and the second a one-yard plunge late in the third quarter that ended up being the difference. When a play needed to be made, or a tough carry had, Anderson was the one often called upon. In addition to his blue-collar efforts on the ground, Anderson hauled in five passes for 47 yards and had a perfect 34-yard pass down the right sideline to Ben Derbis on a halfback pass that set up his first score. After his fumbled punt midway through the third gave the Ponies a short field to climb back into the game, Anderson made amends with a long kickoff return that gave the Knights the ball deep in enemy territory, a drive which ended in his second touchdown of the night. “I was a little upset, but my coaches and teammates kept my head high,” Anderson said. “I was just trying to flush it. New play, new game and start over, keep making plays.” Anderson’s first touchdown accounted for all of the offense in the first half as the Knights led 7-0 at the break. St. Michael-Albertville took advantage of a turnover midway through the third quarter, recovering a muffed punt by Stillwater’s Owen Egge, recovering the ball at the Pony 22-yard line. Ty Haring hit Gage Kloster for a 14-0 lead a few plays later before Anderson’s lone mistake gave the Ponies brief life. But Stillwater couldn’t find a way back to square. Kinsey, a junior, had two touchdown passes to lead the Stillwater offense. “Four turnovers in a one score game, and we had plenty of opportunities,” Ponies coach Beau LaBore said. “We just didn’t find a way.” Related Articles High School Sports | High school football: Lakeville South avenges Week 1 loss to Wayzata in playoff opener High School Sports | High school football: Blaine beats Rosemount to advance in playoffs High School Sports | High school football: Saturday’s section semifinal predictions High School Sports | High School Football: First-round predictions for Class 6A playoffs High School Sports | Wisconsin High School Football: Level 1 Playoff Predictions