Cadets end Huskies’ hopes 46-28
Owatonna wide receiver Caleb Hullopeter, blue jersey, tries to make a play as an STA defensive back leaps in front of him and secures an interception. The pick all but sealed the game in STA’s 46-28 win. Staff photo by Johnnie Phillips
St. Thomas Academy (STA) put an end to Owatonna’s state championship hopes by beating the Huskies 46-28 last weekend.
The Cadets used their high-octane offense to outscore the Huskies in a fast-paced shootout.
“” said Owatonna Head Coach Jeff Williams.
STA took the ball away on Owatonna’s first play from scrimmage by forcing a sack-fumble on Huskies’ quarterback Jacob Ginskey.
The play set up STA on the Owatonna six-yard line, and set up a one-yard plunge by running back Savion Hart.
Owatonna jumped offside on the extra-point attempt, causing STA to attempt a two-point conversion, which resulted in the Cadets taking an 8-0 lead after another scoring run by Hart.
The Huskies were forced to punt on their next possession, allowing STA to capitalize on offense again with another touchdown by Hart on a 34-yard rush.
Now trailing 15-0, Owatonna managed its first score of the game on a massive hookup between Ginskey and his brother, Nolan Ginskey, on a 69-yard passing touchdown.
The score and point after put Owatonna down 15-7.
STA drove down the field on its next possession, but was forced to kick a field goal after a tough defensive stand by Owatonna in its red zone.
STA nailed the 28-yard try to extend its lead to 18-7.
The second quarter saw the Huskies and Cadets swap scores to keep the game at an 11-point margin at the half.
Owatonna running back Brennan Sletten punched in a touchdown from four yards out while STA hit a 16-yard passing touchdown from quarterback Maximus Sims to wide receiver Chase Young.
The Huskies threatened to score a critical touchdown before the end of the half, however, turnovers began to plague Owatonna’s offense.
A fumble by wide receiver Caleb Hullopeter on a fourth-and-three play to get into Cadets’ territory gave STA the ball back to run down the clock before halftime.
After returning from half, STA re-opened the scoring by marching down the field and adding a one-yard rushing touchdown by Hart.
Owatonna bounced back with a scoring drive of its own punctuated by a 10-yard passing touchdown to tight end Jack Strom, but the team’s two-point try was unsuccessful following a costly holding penalty.
Owatonna’s failed two-point attempt kept the game at 32-20 in favor of STA.
STA’s Hart continued his tirade with a 71-yard rushing touchdown to begin the fourth quarter, all but silencing the Owatonna faithful.
The Huskies showed life by putting together a quick scoring drive that ended with another Ginskey-to-Ginskey score and a two-point conversion to Hullopeter, but with 5:32 remaining in the game and an 11-point margin to make up, Owatonna’s chances looked slim.
The dagger in the Huskies’ hearts came on the team’s next possession when Williams was ejected from the game after Owatonna was issued its second bench warning.
The Owatonna coaching staff argued that a Cadet player’s second unsportsmanlike penalty should have him removed from the game – a legitimate request according to Minnesota State High School League rules – but instead, officials elected not to remove the athlete, causing the Owatonna sideline and crowd to erupt and leading to Williams being tossed.
“I will never regret sticking up for one of our kids and I will never regret sticking up for Jacob Ginskey. He’s put his heart, soul and body into this program. He’s laid it on the line for three years for Owatonna football. Shame on me if I don’t go out there and stick up for him,” said Williams.
STA’s secondary forced an interception and Hart found the end zone from 39 yards out for his fifth score of the game shortly after Williams’ exit.
Owatonna was unable to score again and ultimately fell 46-28.
STA’s win moved the Cadets on to play Alexandria Area at the U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.
|
Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
|
STA |
18 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
46 |
|
Owatonna |
7 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
28 |
Player Stats
Passing
#2 Jacob Ginskey – 28/39 423 yards 3 TD 1 int; #16 Noah Truelson – 1/1 8 yards
Rushing
#33 Brennan Sletten – 14 att. 48 yards 1 TD; #3 Nolan Ginskey – 3 att. -2 yards; #2 Ginskey – 10 att. -3 yards; #16 Truelson – 2 att. -4 yards
Receiving
#3 Ginskey – 12 rec. 194 yards 2 TD; #8 Caleb Hullopeter – 10 att. 168 yards; #88 Jack Strom – 4 rec. 38 yards 1 TD; #1 Owen Beyer – 3 rec. 31 yards