A season to remember for Grems

Owatonna running back Conner Grems knew heading into his senior season that a lot was going to be asked of him as a senior and feature back in the Huskies’ offense.

Through 10 games of non-stop action, countless carries and the weekly bumps and bruises that come from being a hard-nosed running back, Grems never showed any signs of slowing down.

Head forward and steadfast, Grems earned the love and respect of his teammates, coaching staff and fans alike by giving his all to the team.

“These kids are my brothers. All the early mornings and practices… it was a hell of a season and a career. I love this place. I love these people, and I would do anything to run it back,” said Grems after Owatonna’s 36-7 loss to Rochester Mayo in the Section 1AAAAA championship game.

After dealing with injury over the course of last season, Grems entered the Huskies 2022 season in close to full health as he prepared to take on his role.

The senior’s first game came in a barn-burner against Rochester Mayo, where he gained 32 yards on 12 carries and added a score in a close 34-27 loss to the Spartans.

Game flow forced Owatonna to lean on its passing game more often than usual, leaving Grems’ usage lower than head coach Jeff Williams may have desired; however, this would not be the case as the season progressed.

Over the next five games, Grems exploded as the frontman in Owatonna’s offense to the tune of 497 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, helping the Huskies to a 4-1 record during the stretch.

Williams praised his lead back for his tenacity and aggressive nature while running the ball, saying that Grems practices how he plays, showing his grit and passion for the game day in and day out.

Though Owatonna would go on to lose its final two games of the regular season, Grems still put in work on offense for the Huskies and added 222 rushing yards and four more touchdowns to his already impressive resume.

Despite a 4-4 overall record heading into the section tournament, Owatonna was given the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye to prepare for the winner of Northfield and Rochester John Marshall.

In his usual fashion, Grems hit the ground running against Northfield in the section semifinals, and did not let adversity get to him when it struck.

An apparent leg injury sidelined the senior for one play before he returned to the field and finished the game with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown to go with three receptions and 52 more receiving yards.

“I know I’m going to go until I can’t walk. As long as I can stand, I’m going to go out there and fight for my boys,” said Grems.

At this point in the season, Grems averaged 94.5 rushing yards per game for the Huskies and sat close to a 100-yard average with 851 total rushing yards across nine games.

With the season on the line against Rochester Mayo in the Section 1AAAAA championship game, Grems put in one final performance for his team and rushed for 60 more yards in a hard-fought effort to keep his team’s season alive.

Unfortunately for Grems and the Huskies, the Spartans' defense was able to neutralize much of Owatonna’s offense for the majority of the game, and eventually led Rochester Mayo to the title.

Yet, no matter the final score, it was the heart and determination of Grems and his teammates that turned an unlikely season into another success story for the Owatonna football program.

After key injuries derailed multiple early season games, Owatonna found its way back into state playoff contention via its relentless work ethic, talented athletes and coaching staff, and its love for the game.