SPORTS WRAP
Two steps forward. One back. The Owatonna football winning streak is over at two after a 28-7 loss at Northfield Friday. The Raiders outgained the Huskies 394-134 yards.
The season started with losses to a pair of borderline top 10 teams Mankato East and Mankato West. The Cougars just beat No. 10 Waconia last Friday. The Scarlets topped No. 8 Chaska the previous week. Owatonna’s week three loss to Century left the Huskies in “gut-check” mode according to head coach Jeff Williams.
Back-to-back wins over New Prague and Rochester John Marshall followed. Senior defensive lineman Max Flemke said it was a team effort. “I think we’ve got a bunch of guys stepping up. We’ve got people filling holes, just doing what they’re supposed to do. People flying around everywhere. I really like how we’ve progressed.”
For him, being excited is part of the equation. “If I’m not hyped, I’m not playing. I’m kind of always hyped. I’m a little quieter, calm and collected coming up to the game. But once we get done with our Husky Jacks and we’re coming onto the field, stuff needs to get real, and I just get pumped.”
Fellow lineman and senior Ryan McIntosh feels the emotion of game night. “I just like lining up across from a dude and just being like, ‘I’m going to punch you in the mouth for four quarters. All game long.’ It’s what it’s going to be. I just love that physical aspect. I love to hit. I find it fun.”
Owatonna’s offense picked up the pace in those two victories. Senior running back Tristan Graham had three straight games of 100-plus yards, highlighted by 191 yards and three touchdowns at Rochester John Marshall. “The offensive line is doing really well. We were off to a little bumpy start at the beginning of the season, I will admit. But those guys just got in the playbook. Got in the film room and learned what they needed to do and did their job.”
Williams said the “shocker” of a loss to Century inspired a turnaround. “They made a real commitment to double down on their effort. Things picked up in practice. Their work in the weight room has been great. Everything about them has been superb as far as the attitude goes,” said Williams.
Senior linebacker Logan Risser says the week four win over New Prague on a walk-off field goal by Landen Sturges left him “ecstatic.”
“I don’t know how Ryan [McIntosh] stared at that. I had to look away. I didn’t know what was going to happen. When it went in, it was awesome,” said Risser.
Watch the full interview with the captains on OwatonnaLive.com.
The Huskies host Tackle Cancer Night when Rochester Mayo comes to Federated Field on Friday, Oct. 10. It will be the first meeting between the teams since the Spartans won the section title in 2022 and spent the last two years in Class AAAAAA.
OHS hosts Apple Valley on Wednesday, Oct. 15 to end the regular season. Williams says it could be very competitive at playoff time. “There could be some lower seeds that knock off some higher seeds. It is because it is a balanced section this year. Mayo looks to be very good.”
The Spartans pulled a rabbit out of their hat on Friday with three fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat John Marshall 33-26.
Star kicker
Drew Henson (OHS 2023) earned Northern Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance on Sept. 27. The University of Minnesota-Duluth kicker hit a pair of field goals, including a 52-yarder, and averaged 40 yards on four punts in a 28-14 win over Minnesota-Morris.
In their most recent game, a 63-28 blowout over Southwest Minnesota State, the redshirt sophomore went nine-for-nine on extra points. That is two shy of a single-game Bulldog record. UMD is 6-0 this fall.
During his senior season in 2022 with the Huskies, Henson was named the Big Southeast Red Division Special Teams Player of the Year. He went four-for-six on field goals and 25-for-26 on extra points. He added 18 touchbacks on kickoffs. Henson also played soccer for OHS.
Final home game
The Owatonna boys’ soccer team closed out their home regular season with a 5-1 loss to Mankato East on Sept. 30. The Huskies had multiple top-grade scoring chances but didn’t have any bounces go their way. Owatonna’s goal came on sophomore Miguel Arevalo’s penalty kick midway through the first half.
It was the final home game for coach Bob Waypa, the only head coach in Huskies’ boys soccer history.
He expected a few memories to run through his head at the final horn. “I told my wife afterward I’ll probably sit on the bench by myself for a little bit. It’s been 28 years of most of the games on this field (Lincoln Soccer Complex.) It’ll probably sink in a little bit later, after the game. And days down the road.”
The Huskies have won three section titles and three conference championships. Waypa announced before the season that this would be his last. His daughter, Kelli, is a freshman playing soccer at Dordt University in Iowa. He missed most of her high school career and says he wants to be there for her college games.
Senior night at OHS
Huskies’ girls soccer hosted senior night with their annual contest at Federated Field on Thursday, Oct. 2. Coach Nate Gendron said the seniors “are really focused on bringing everybody together… They’re truly about the team and what’s best for the team. They encourage other girls. They’re driving girls to practices and they just are the glue that holds everything together,” said Gendron.
Senior Rylee Hilmer chipped in a shot in the 14th minute to give OHS the lead over Northfield. Sophomore Paige McGrath hammered home a back-post play just before halftime after a great individual effort by junior Norah Cederstrom to create the chance. That 2-0 score stood as the final. Scarlet Schwartz got the shutout without a shot on goal being registered for the Raiders.
The Huskies improved to 2-0-1 in matches at the high school. “It’s always an exciting night for us to play here. The energy’s just a little bit different. I know the girls are super excited,” said Gendron.
The soccer playoffs began on Tuesday at Rochester Mayo for the girls and at Rochester Century for the boys.
A tale of two thirds
The Steele County Blades junior hockey team broke open a 1-1 game Friday night with an eight-goal third period for a 9-1 victory over Hudson in the home opener at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna.
The next night the Blades surrendered a four-goal third in a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Blue Ox. The stampede began right after Steele County scored seven minutes into the third to build a 3-1 lead. But a fight during the goal celebration led to a Minnesota power play on which they scored less than a minute later.
The Blue Ox tied the game just 39 seconds after that and went ahead 4-3 a mere two minutes later. They added an empty netter to secure the 5-3 win and improve to 6-0 on the season. The Blades are 3-1.
Steele County plays at the Minnesota Outlaws in East Bethel on Saturday, Oct. 11 with their next home game on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. against the Northwest Express from Spooner, Wisconsin.
Color Run
A run to benefit the Ellendale inclusive playground is this Saturday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. at the Ellendale Elementary School. It’s a one-mile color run/walk/stroll with games, a food truck and fire truck. Check-in begins at 4 p.m.
The first phase of the project is complete. The second phase will lead to the purchase of the last piece of playground equipment. The last phase will fund turf or poured-in-place rubber for the surface.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play
Thursday, Oct. 9:
Blooming Prairie football vs. JWP, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10:
OHS football vs. Rochester Mayo, Tackle Cancer Night, 7 p.m. (simulcast on The FAN-Owatonna, 1170AM/106.3FM)