Huskies clinch No. 1 seed with win over RJM

After beating the Rochester John Marshall (RJM) Rockets 32-14 at home last Friday, the Owatonna Huskies clinched the No. 1 seed for the Section 1AAAAA football playoffs.

Owatonna’s only two blemishes in a 5-2 season so far have come to fellow state powerhouses Chanhassen (No. 1) and Mankato West (No. 3), with the Huskies sweeping all five of their games against Northstar-South-Maroon opponents.

“I think it helps,” said Owatonna Head Coach Jeff Williams about securing the No. 1 seed before the end of the regular season. “We’ve had some knockdown, drag-out games against Apple Valley in the 2013 and 2016 state playoffs. They’re a fun team to play. It’s a short week, so we’re just not going to try to get too cute. We’re going to get better at the things we need to work on and hone the things we’re doing well.”

Owatonna opened the game with a 60-yard scoring drive set up by a massive kick return to the Owatonna 40-yard line by return specialist Nick Armstrong.

Capping the 11-play, 4:46 drive was a three-yard touchdown plunge by running back Brennan Sletten.

The Huskies added the extra point after to lead 7-0 with 7:14 remaining in the first quarter.

Both offenses then fell silent until late in the second quarter, when Owatonna’s smash-mouth run game beat down the Rockets defense for another score.

After securing possession at their own 17-yard line via a turnover on downs with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half, Owatonna marched down the field and covered 83 yards in 7:41 to score again and extend its lead to 14-0.

This time, fullback Mitch Seykora punched the ball up the middle for a three-yard score followed by another successful point-after attempt by kicker Seth Johnson.

Owatonna’s ensuing kickoff pinned RJM deep in its own territory, spelling trouble for the Rockets’ struggling offense.

A quick RJM three-and-out left the Rockets in a predicament, as Owatonna threatened to regain possession deep in plus territory with just over two minutes remaining in the half.

The Rockets took a timeout to talk over their options before the play, and after initially lining up to punt, the Rockets’ punter decided to step out of the back of the endzone to give up a safety.

The Rockets’ logic in doing so was presumably to give up two points and punt from closer to the Huskies’ territory in the hopes that the team’s defense could stop the Huskies from scoring another touchdown before the half.

In doing so, RJM managed to keep the game at a two-score deficit instead of opening the floodgates for a potential disaster by falling behind 21-0 at halftime.

RJM’s gamble paid off as the Huskies were held from scoring again in the half as both teams hit the locker rooms with Owatonna up 16-0.

After returning to play, RJM quickly found itself in a position similar to the end of the first half.

Pinned deep inside its own five-yard line again, RJM elected to punt on fourth down, but this time, the Huskies broke through to stuff the Rockets’ attempt and earn yet another safety.

The Huskies received the Rockets punt with an 18-0 lead and quickly added onto their total with another scoring drive capped by an eight-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Jacob Ginskey.

Ginskey’s score and another extra point put the Huskies up 25-0 with 7:04 remaining in the third quarter.

Both offenses slowed for the remainder of the third before RJM finally broke through with a 45-yard passing touchdown down the home sideline.

RJM’s point-after attempt was no good and held the score at 25-6.

The Huskies' final score came on the team’s ensuing possession, when wide receiver Nolan Ginskey took a quick toss nine yards for a touchdown.

Ginskey’s score put Owatonna up 32-6.

RJM managed to score one final time on a 13-yard passing touchdown with 3:08 remaining, but it made no difference as the Huskies were already in cruise control headed toward the win.

The Rockets tacked on a two-point attempt to bring the score to its final tally at 32-16.

Owatonna’s win against the Rockets kept up the team’s streak of wins dating back 18 years since the last time RJM managed to beat the Huskies.

Up next for Owatonna is a road game against Apple Valley on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.

Player Stats

Passing

#2 Jacob Ginskey – 9/20 114 yards

Rushing

#33 Brennan Sletten – 31 att. 128 yards 1 TD; #2 Ginskey – 4 att. 22 yards 1 TD; #29 Tristan Graham – 2 att. 17 yards; #3 Nolan Ginskey – 1 att. 9 yards 1 TD; #20 Mitch Seykora – 2 att. 6 yards 1 TD; #28 Mitchel Clark – 1 att. 4 yards; #16 Noah Truelson – 1 att. 3 yards

Receiving

#1 Owen Beyer – 2 rec. 44 yards; #3 Ginskey – 5 rec. 42 yards; #8 Caleb Hullopeter – 2 rec. 28 yards