Fast start sends Huskies to back to state
The Owatonna Huskies pose for a photo with their Section 1AAAAA championship trophy. The Huskies beat Rochester John Marshall 38-15 and will head to the state tournament beginning on Saturday, Nov. 9. Staff photo by Johnnie Phillips
Owatonna football will head back to the state tournament after dismantling the Rochester John Marshall (RJM) 38-15 in the Section 1AAAAA championship game.
The last time Owatonna faced the Rockets, a comeback win kept the Huskies’ perfect season alive.
This time around, the momentum never left Owatonna’s sideline.
“One of the biggest things since the last time we played them is that our defensive line has really elevated the way they play. They’ve really honed in on attacking the edges of offensive linemen. Our outside linebackers brought some great pressure. We got them behind the sticks and put them in positions where we knew what they wanted to do most of the time,” said Owatonna Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Marc Achterkirch.
The Huskies started off hot scoring 24 unanswered points to begin the game thanks to touchdowns by Blake Fitcher, Luke Webber and Nolan Ginskey.
RJM scored before half after a big quarterback draw rushing play set the Rockets up at the Owatonna three-yard line, but the Huskies put up another touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half courtesy of a Tristan Graham rush.
Both teams scored once more in the game, with the Huskies’ final touchdown coming by way of Graham’s legs again – his second of the game.
The win improves Owatonna’s record to a perfect 10-0 and sets the Huskies up for a shot at Class AAAAA glory when the state tournament begins on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Seedings and matchup information were not available at the time of press.