Fans and players alike gathered after the game to chant two words: "Number" and "one."

The message, both spoken and shown in the result on the field, was simple: Minneapolis Washburn has arrived. And the Millers intend to keep going.

Although undefeated, Washburn entered Saturday as the underdog in a matchup against unbeaten Stillwater — a battle of top-ranked teams. Washburn, ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A state coaches' poll, got a late goal from Otis Anderson and topped No. 1-2A Stillwater, 1-0.

It was a statement win for the Millers, who won 11 games a year ago and 12 the year before, but fell short of a state tournament berth both seasons.

“It’s definitely a big deal, especially, they’re ranked No. 1 in the state,” Anderson said. “At the end of the day, it’s still a regular-season game, but it lets people know we’re one of the top teams in the state.”

Both teams were as good as expected, generating offensive chances and playing the kind of defense that can fuel a postseason run. The styles on offense were different, but both effective; Stillwater got most of its chances off set pieces such as corner kicks, free kicks and long throw-ins by Spencer Scott, while Washburn relied on ball possession and built up its attack from the back.

The Millers’ fluid possession, with lots of movement away from the ball and the chemistry-drive one-touch passes, limited the Ponies to try and do the same.

“We made it hard for them to get it,” Washburn coach Aaron Percy said. “That’s how we try to play. We try to play a lot of possession. Really work the ball, kind of make the other team wear out as the game goes on.”

That's what sparked Anderson’s goal. A senior center back, Anderson got the ball outside the right half of the 18-yard box and fired a low line drive shot into the far corner of the goal. The Millers took that lead in the 72nd minute.

“I decided I was going to take off,” Anderson said. “I was just feeling it, I guess. As soon as I got it back, I knew I was going to hit that ball.”

It was Anderson’s third goal of the season. Percy said he trusts his center defenders enough to join the attack in the flow of play if they want.

“He’s one of those players that when the game’s tight, he steps up,” Percy said of Anderson. “It was funny, because I sat there and I said to my assistant coach, ‘Otis, what are you doing?’ And then he starts making that run and it’s like, ‘OK, let him go.’ Then he finishes that.

"It was fitting that he does that, because he’s kind of the heart and soul of this team right now," Percy said.

The goal set off a big celebration as Anderson ran over to the ample contingent of Washburn student-fans who made the trip east. Many of those fans stayed after the game to celebrate more, knowing the Millers will likely be the new No. 1 team in next week’s poll.

Although it's just a regular-season win, both player and coach see Saturday's result as a confidence boost, especially after a 2-1 loss at home to the Ponies last year. It was also an affirmation of the work the Millers have put in up to this point. Getting a road win over the No. 1 team was the kind of performance Washburn needs to be able to replicate if it wants to make its first trip to state since 2015.

“Like I said, it’s just a regular-season game. But it just shows we’re here,” Anderson said. “The last couple of years, we’ve exited early. We just want to show teams we’re here, we’re going to make a run for it.”