SPORTS WRAP

            By all accounts Owatonna High School football player Sam Dulas had a great junior year in 2025. He anchored an offensive line that solidified as the season wore on and the team’s rushing attack propelled them to a strong finish.

            Just don’t ask him. “It’s just a matter of what’s going to motivate you (in the new season). And my biggest motivating factor. I was all-district, but I still thought I didn’t have that good of a season. I didn’t go where I wanted to, missing an entire off season and having a rough track season” due to a back injury.

            Video evidence of Dulas bullying defensive linemen and chasing quarterbacks is available on social media. He’s pleased with how his senior year has started, including great participation by his linemates when he hosts video sessions at his house.

            Dulas has gotten back into the weightroom since recovering from the injury. “That’s where I was made. Missing the entire winter hurt. But I love the weightroom.

            “It’s fun being on the field (on defense too), playing 80, 90 plays a game. Defense, you get to go out there and make tackles. Get your name in the paper. Offense, you get out there, carry your lunch box. You’re blue collar,” he said.

            Dulas has committed to the University of Sioux Falls. “I think the deciding factor for me committing there was, when I went there to visit for my Junior Day, I watched the coach coach. And their coach coached exactly like coach (Kyle) Melcher. Down to the bone.

            “I love coach Melcher. If I get (someone like) him for four or five more years, that’d be awesome. My coach in college (Jay Schlichte) played against Melcher (in high school).” Dulas added.

            Ben Sackett returns to a starting role on the defensive front as a senior and knows how much of a role emotion can play on a big play. “It’s really a gamechanger. It changes the energy of our defense and really pushes us and fires us up for the next play.

            “I think we are really aggressive. We have a pretty sharp (defense),” Sackett states.

Offense

            Aedan Tackmann is back as signal caller. In addition to seven-on-seven camps leading up to his senior season, “Getting the guys out on the turf, just random days throughout the week and throwing the ball around.

            “More confident. With the extra year added on, I can sling it a lot better. The velocity and how far I’m able to throw it. The arm strength is a lot better… I’m a lot more comfortable with reads and seeing motions. It’s a lot easier.”

            Tackmann’s back-up is his brother, Arik, a junior. “He’s a good quarterback. Having him behind me has been nice. Pushing me to be better myself.”

            Aedan points out, “The (offensive) line, blocking well. But also, the running backs, they run hard.”

            Almost the entire receiving corps is back. “Basically everybody returned. It’s been nice. I throw the ball up and it’s caught.” Through four games, he’s averaging 150 yards passing with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

            Nolan Rolloff takes some snaps at receiver and is a returning all-district defensive back. “Reps are everything. The more times you see something, the more times you pick up on it. Key it. If you can catch one thing, like a tendency of a receiver, and then you go jump that route for a pick, that’s a huge play.”

            While he hasn’t caught a touchdown pass from Tackmann yet, he did return an interception for a score against Rochester Century during a week three victory. “He (the Century quarterback) just threw a ball up there for anyone to get… I know Sam and Xzabian (Hernandez) had a triple, quadruple pancake in the middle of the field. Carson Bock had a great block down by the goal line. It was just a really special play.”

Homecoming Oct. 2

            The Huskies host Rochester John Marshall for homecoming on Friday, Oct. 2. Rolloff says the game takes on added significance. “Your community is always behind you, but homecoming is extra because they want to come back and see the homecoming game. So, there will be more people there. More people you recognize and know. They’re all cheering you on.”

            He hopes to give them a show. “I would say my favorite part of the field, I really like the lights going on and off after a touchdown.”

            Sackett loves the support the team gets at Federated Field. “The fans. It’s a whole new energy playing at home. Every celebration we have there are fans cheering. Every tackle, every play,” said Sackett.

            Aedan Tackmann says he’ll miss being on the football team truck bed during the parade but is excited for his role as a member of the homecoming court. “It was cool to be nominated by my school and my classmates.”

College success

            In a Northern Sun Conference football game in Duluth on Sept. 19, former OHS players accounted for all the points in a 9-6 University of Minnesota, Duluth victory over Winona State University. Senior Drew Henson kicked three field goals including the game winner as time expired.

            He placed two punts at the one-yard line with a long punt of 64 yards. His efforts led to NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. OHS grad Luke Webber (sophomore, defensive back) is a teammate of Henson’s with the Bulldogs.

            On the other side, Warriors’ sophomore wide receiver Nolan Ginskey caught a touchdown pass to represent the only points for Winona State. He also just caught four passes, one for a touchdown, Sept. 26 in Winona State’s 42-41 overtime victory against Augustana University.

            His brother, Jacob – a junior at Gustavus Adolphus College – has gone through a couple of position changes this fall. Previously a quarterback, Ginskey moved to receiver and caught eight passes in the Gusties’ season-opening win over Central (IA). An injury at quarterback necessitated his switch back to the spot he played for the Huskies. He’s had a touchdown pass in each of his two starts.

            OHS coach Jeff Williams says it shows a lot of character. “That says an awful lot about the kind of kid (Jacob Ginskey) is. And his ability to say whatever the team needs, that’s what I will do.”

            Senior linebacker and OHS grad Drew Kretlow is the Gusties’ leading tackler. Junior Torrin Smith of Owatonna is tops on the team in tackles-for-a-loss. Former Huskies Dezmond Nichols (senior, runningback), Blake Fitcher (sophomore, linebacker), and Jack Meneguzzo (sophomore, offensive lineman) help fill the roster in St. Peter.

            Freshman Landen Sturges is making waves with the University of St. Thomas averaging 39 yards on four punts in a Sept. 19 victory with a long of 49 yards. He averaged 43 yards on a pair of punts in a Tommies’ win on Sept. 26.

            Williams says, “The thing that I probably take the most pride in is when their coaches say, No. 1 they’re just great kids. They’re leaders on our team. And No. 2, they’re just so disciplined. They’re eager to learn. They’re students of the game. Just love when those kids launch out of Owatonna High School and they’re able to be successful at the next level.”

OwatonnaHuskies.com play-by-play

Thursday, Oct. 1
OHS volleyball vs. Austin, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 2
OHS football vs. Rochester JM, 7 p.m., pregame at 6 p.m. (simulcast on 1170AM/106.3FM)