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Air attack leads Huskies to thump JM

owatonna, football, ohs, huskies
Quarterback Jacob Ginskey (13) is brought down after a rush against Rochester John Marshall. Since returning from an ankle injury three weeks ago, Ginskey has helped lead the Huskies on a three-game winning streak. Staff photo by Sevy Enter
By
Roy Koenig, Sports Analyst

Owatonna won its third straight game while extending its streak over John Marshall to 19 in Friday’s 60-6 win in Rochester.

Huskies football coach Jeff Williams wanted to work on the passing game. “This week we came in with the thought that we’re going to try to throw the ball a little bit,” he said. “We’re going to try to get Jacob [Ginskey] comfortable in the pocket. We’re going to try to shore up our pass protection. We’re going to try to get balls out to receivers.”

“JM did some really good things with their blitz package, and they brought more than we were able to block early. I thought we did a nice job of modifying our pass protection on the fly. Coming out in the second half we had a great opening drive, threw the ball very effectively to a number of different receivers.” That included Jack Strom, Caleb Hullopeter, Owen Beyer, and Ayden Walter.

“That was a real positive,” Williams added. Walter had a pair of catch-and-run scoring plays. Ginskey went approximately 5-for-13 in the first half but hit four-out-of-five passes on the opening touchdown drive of the third quarter.

Williams, who is a 1983 JM grad, said, “My friends and I have always been really proud to be Rockets. We had an outstanding athletic tradition. A lot of great athletes came through there through the years. My dad [Snuffy] was a coach there. Proud to be from that school. They are struggling.”

“But I think coach [Kyle] Riggott is going to do a nice job. He’s a young guy. I think he’s invested. I think he’s going to take the time necessary to build the program to go back out and be competitive. I’m pleased with the work he’s doing, and I told him so after the game.”

JM exhibited its youth movement. A sophomore quarterback and running back had a pair of big plays on their first possession, but the drive stalled. It was the only time JM threatened to score until the fourth quarter when their starters marched against Owatonna’s reserves. The Huskies had a pair of sacks and blocked a pair of punts. Collin Vick intercepted a pass.

Ginskey found Beyer for a 40-yard pick-up on the Huskies’ second play of the night. The drive ended with Conner Grems sprinting in from 16 yards less than four minutes into the game. The Huskies put up points on five of their first six drives and led 31-0 at the half.

Grems had four touchdown runs including a 56-yard dash. “Conner is getting more and more comfortable every week,” says Williams. “We talk to him about making sure, especially with our gap-scheme stuff, where there is a predesigned hole, you’ve got to hit the hole. Sometimes it’s going to be a little bit cloudy. You’ll get into the hole, and it might up late. He’s starting to trust that.”

Noah Truelson had a touchdown pass to Ethan Armstrong. Dez Nichols ran in a score. Drew Henson drilled a 38-yard field goal.

Owatonna hosts New Prague on Thursday. Williams said, “Everybody in the Big Southeast is required now, because of the official shortage, of playing on a Saturday or playing on a Thursday night.” He also likes the extra day to prepare for the MEA week game on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

The Trojans “are a pretty run-heavy team,” analyzes Williams. He says their defense has improved through the season. “They were duking it out with Mayo [Friday] through three quarters and limited Mayo’s pass offense.” New Prague trailed just 21-14 entering the fourth quarter before the Spartans pulled away for the 42-14 win.

The Trojans blanked Owatonna 27-0 a season ago. “Very frankly kind of knocked us around a little bit last year. So our kids have a lot to play for yet,” Williams said.

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