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East Metro football Player of the year: Stillwater quarterback Max Shikenjanski

jace frederick, pioneer press
·6 min read

As far back as the Stillwater records go, Max Shikenjanski is believed to be the first Stillwater freshman to play varsity football. It was at quarterback, no less, against Cretin-Derham Hall, of all teams.

Shikenjanski was the junior varsity signal caller 2019 who was thrust into duty when varsity starter Casey Venske suffered a concussion the week prior.

“We figured, ‘This is going to be really interesting,’ ” Stillwater coach Beau LaBore recalled. “He’s the ultimate competitor, let’s see what happens. You throw a ninth-grader out there, and we’re hoping that he’s the one.”

Stillwater tossed Shikenjanski directly into the deep end. The first play from scrimmage was known all week leading up to the contest — the Ponies were going long. Shikenjanski called the play in the huddle, and doesn’t remember much after that.

“I wouldn’t say I closed my eyes and threw it,” he said, “but I threw it up and our guy made a play.”

Luke Cullen hauled in the long ball and ran 63 yards for a Stillwater score on Shikenjanski’s first-ever varsity play to pave the way for a 7-5 Ponies’ victory.

“That was kind of like, ‘Alright, we’re going to be alright with this guy,’ ” LaBore said.

More than alright.

After spending his sophomore season as a speedy wide receiver, Shikenjanski took the quarterback reins as a junior and never relinquished them.

As a senior, the signal caller threw for 2,294 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing 66 percent of his passes and rushing for another seven scores, leading the Ponies to their first state tournament appearance since 2006. He is the 2022 East Metro football Player of the Year.

“Max is the complete high school football player,” LaBore said. “He’s gifted with talent that most kids dream of; however, he’s also a fierce competitor. He works hard, he’s fully dedicated, leads, holds his teammates and himself to a very high standard all the time, and just has a knack to be able to make a play when a team needs one.”

The physical tools of Shikenjanski, a preferred walk-on for the Gophers football team after choosing the gridiron over basketball at the next level, are impressive. He can make all the throws — deep outs from the far hash, passes that fly 50 yards in the air, tosses made while scrambling to his left — in every situation. He’s also comfortable extending plays with his legs, either to create rushing opportunities for himself or to allow his receivers more time to get open.

“Max is strong, Max is fast, he’s quick, he’s deceptive, he’s got a little wiggle,” LaBore said. “His arm strength and his speed and his knowledge of the game are so good that he’s going to have a lot of opportunity because of that.”

The 165-pound quarterback could surely add a little girth, and there is a belief he will. LaBore noted Shikenjanski has “always been on the go” as a multi-sport standout. Shikenjanski — whose father Jim played basketball for the Gophers from 1986-90 — is also a star basketball player originally committed to hoop for The Citadel before deciding to play football for Minnesota.

Having a commitment in college to play only football, along with the meal plans and training opportunities that come with that, should allow for a pivotal growth spurt that would only add to the quarterback’s physical excellence.

But it’s more than those physical traits that have Shikenjanski so well prepared to contribute at the next level. The senior has a firm grasp of everything that comes with the quarterback position. That starts with the leadership, where Shikenjanski is comfortable holding himself and all of his teammates to account.

He loves playing quarterback because he likes that the losses fall, first and foremost, on himself. He has full knowledge of not only what he’s supposed to do on every play, but also all of his teammates.

“(He knows) where they were supposed to be lined up, what their job was and whether they executed,” LaBore said.

That knowledge allowed Stillwater to empower the quarterback more than most high school teams can. The Ponies executed a run-pass option offense with Shikenjanski. The signal caller was tasked with decisions before the snap and after. And then there were moments when he would go off script to try to make something happen. He was constantly reading the opposing pressure and coverage.

“He had the keys to the car like I would never guess a quarterback would have in high school football,” LaBore said. “It’s impressive, and there were moments that we were just surprised to see how much he knew and how much more he was going to figure out.”

Shikenjanski noted he could never take a mental rep off.

“It was a ton of fun,” he said. “I couldn’t really ask my coaches for a better offense to be in. It was kind of a high school quarterback’s dream to be in the position I was in.”

Just as he was a dream quarterback to coach.

“Our coaching staff has remarked over and over, particularly the last year, to take time at practice, games and when watching film to savor what we’re watching,” LaBore said. “Because coaching a player of Max’s caliber — at quarterback, no less — has got to be something that’s pretty rare, and has to be enjoyed to the fullest.”

Finalists

Hayden Bills, senior defensive lineman, Rosemount: Said one opposing coach, “He was the single best player we saw this year. He has a motor like no other and his first step is so fast.”

Corey Bohmert, senior running back, Mahtomedi: Given his chance to take the reins in the Mahtomedi backfield, Bohmert amassed 2,338 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns.

Jake Borman, senior defensive back, St. Thomas Academy: Patrolman in St. Thomas Academy’s defensive backfield logged nine interceptions.

Rayshaun Brakes, senior receiver, White Bear Lake: Explosive playmaker tallied six 20-plus yard touchdowns, including three that were north of 60 yards.

Kade Gilbertson, senior linebacker, Rosemount: Middle man in Rosemount’s stout defense — maybe the state’s best unit — has 99 tackles heading into the Class 6A title game. Preferred walk-on at Iowa State.

Carson Hansen, senior running back, Lakeville South: Iowa State commit was the motor for Lakeville South’s Power-T offense this season, rushing for 1,720 yards while scoring 25 total touchdowns.

Reese Littlefield, senior linebacker, Centennial: Finished with 144 total tackles — nine of which were for a loss — while commanding Centennial’s dominant defense.

Gavin Nelson, senior running back, Simley: The Gophers wrestling commit has 1,973 yards and 23 scores on the groundl with the Class 4A final yet to be played on Friday. Also has 50 tackles as a linebacker.

Ryder Patterson, senior defensive back, Lakeville South: Minnesota-Duluth commit had 95 tackles and two interceptions in the Cougars’ defensive backfield, while also rushing for 553 yards and five scores.

Keenan Wilson, senior lineman, Eagan: Described by one coach as “an absolute monster on both sides of the ball,” North Dakota State commit played a large role in Eagan’s program resurgence.

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