Four-Minute Stretch of Title Game Key to Huskies Victory

Owatonna turned a close game into a rout in less than four-minutes that bridged halftime of Friday's 38-20 section title victory over Northfield.

The Huskies were up 10-7 with about two minutes to go in the second quarter. They had just punted the ball from the Northfield side of midfield. Coach Jeff Williams told KRFO that with fourth and long they decided to punt and see if the defense could hold and get the ball back for the OHS offense.

The defense did better than that. Ben Staska had a strip-sack of the quarterback and Mitch Wiese recovered the ball at the Northfield five-yard line. Jason Williamson punched in his second touchdown of the night shortly afterward for a 17-7 lead with 1:36 remaining in the half.

On the previous drive, Owatonna scored on a misplay on fourth down. Williams says the offense was supposed to run motion but didn't do so. Williamson broke a tackle at the goal line to get the touchdown.

OHS opened the second half with two quick scoring drives. They started at their 35-yard line after the kickoff went out of bounds. Abe Havelka found Dalton Kubista for a 28-yard pass to soften up the Raiders' run defense. Williamson dashed 37 yards for a touchdown on the next play and the lead was 24-7. Only 14 seconds had come off the third-quarter clock.

After a Northfield punt the Huskies scored in three plays on a tackle-breaking, 45-yard catch and run by Brett Solie. That stretched Owatonna's lead to 31-7 with 9:53 remaining in the third. Three touchdowns in 3:43 of game time and OHS was on its way to their sixth section championship in school history.

Owatonna opens the state tournament with a quarterfinal game against Apple Valley on Saturday, November 12, at 6PM on Kat Kountry 105FM.