Huskies shut out by New Prague, 27-0
New Prague shut out the Owatonna Huskies football team on Friday, 27-0.
The shut-out is the second of the season that the Huskies have been shut out, the first coming against Mankato West in mid-September.
Until this year, the Huskies had not been shutout since 2014, when the Huskies lost to Mankato West 69-0.
West went on to win the state tournament that year.
The Huskies offense struggled to find its rhythm, only gaining 67 yards of total offense on the night.
The passing game in particular took a hit from the defense, as sophomore quarterback Jacob Ginskey completed only two of 14 attempts for a total of 23 yards to go with four interceptions.
Junior quarterback Porter Kuchenbecker also had one interception on one passing attempt to bring Owatonna’s total to five interceptions on the night.
Senior wide receiver Nick Williams did not make a catch in the game while junior wide receiver Ayden Walter tallied one total reception for 18 yards on the night.
New Prague’s defense also stopped the Huskies run game. Senior running back Dylan Maas recorded 68 yards on 22 rushing attempts.
However, the team finished with only 67 rushing yards. Ginskey and senior kicker Eli Knutson lost 10 and 18 yards respectively on the night.
Senior utility player Grant Achterkirch was the only other rusher positive rushing yards on the night. He gained four yards on one rushing attempt.
Owatonna’s defense held New Prague to 217 yards on the night, keeping New Prague to seven or less points in every quarter.
Achterkirch led Owatonna’s defense with 11.0 tackles, consisting of eight solo tackles and six assisted tackles with one forced fumble.
In the end, it was turnovers that cost Owatonna, as they finished the game with seven turnovers to New Prague’s one.
A total of five interceptions and two fumbles did the Huskies in.
Up next for Owatonna is a home matchup against Kasson-Mantorville on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
Kasson-Mantorville enters the game with a 5-2 record, while the Huskies enter the game at 4-3.