Coaches Shows

The Owatonna High School auditorium felt like a dance party as the pep band played and Huskies' fans swayed to the music while awaiting the arrival of the newly crowned state champion football team. The players sprinted up the aisles to the strains of the school song while the packed auditorium gave them a wild, standing ovation.

Owatonna won its second Prep Bowl title with a dominating 63-26 victory over defending champ Elk River Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Junior running back Jason Williamson tied a Prep Bowl record with six touchdowns and senior Tucker Alstead returned a fumble 29 yards for a score.

Owatonna and Elk River have each won a Prep Bowl football state title. The Elks are the defending champs. OHS won the title in 2013. One of the schools will add a championship Saturday at 4PM at U.S. Bank Stadium. Radio coverage can be heard on Kat Kountry 105FM. Pregame should begin at 3:30PM.

As you get set to spend part of your Thanksgiving / Black Friday / Small Town Saturday weekend cheering on Owatonna football at U.S. Bank Stadium in the Prep Bowl XXXVII final against Elk River, here are a few finishing touches you should consider.

If you can't fake it, you don't play. That's what Elk River coach Steve Hamilton says as the Elks attempt to defend their state football championship against Owatonna Saturday, November 25 at 4PM at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The high school hockey season arrives in Owatonna Tuesday as the Owatonna girls open their home schedule at 7PM with coverage on KRFO AM1390. OHS (1-0) hosts Rochester Century (0-1) at the Four Seasons Centre.

In a rematch of the 2013 Prep Bowl championship game held at the Metrodome, Owatonna and Brainerd will clash in the semifinals Saturday, November 18 at U.S. Bank Stadium. While the players are all different, the coaching staffs and schemes remain mostly the same.

Owatonna junior Allison An achieved her goal of advancing to the finals of the Class AA diving meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. She is in ninth place after two rounds on Thursday. The finals are Saturday at 6PM.

Owatonna High School has an experienced coaching staff leading their football team into the state semifinals Saturday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. But their years of working together pales in comparison to the group that will line up across from them for the second time in five years.

The old adage is that, "Defense wins championships." Modern day football seems to fly in the face of that. The average score in the 2016 Prep Bowl finals was 39-21. Owatonna answers that contradiction by leading the state tournament field in defense and offense.