Owatonna Football Wraps up Team Camp

The Owatonna High School football team wrapped up its team camp for prospective players for the 2016 season on Thursday at the high school practice fields.

The next time the team gets together in an official capacity it will be on the opening day of fall sports practice, Monday, August 15. This week's optional camp focused on offense and defense and installing plays and systems. Coach Jeff Williams looks at the time as a good chance to "get up to speed" on the upcoming season.

He says for more than 10 years teams have been allowed to have a summer contact period. For a few years Owatonna traveled outside of Minnesota for a camp. Williams says the players liked doing a camp but felt staying home would be a better approach.

Owatonna has had a good summer of 7-on-7. Their team went 6-1 at Notre Dame to finish in the top eight in their division. They won two out of three games at Gustavus Adolphus, beating Lakeville North and Farmington while losing to Lakeville South. All three of those schools play in Class 6A. Owatonna is a 5A team.

Owatonna hosts its youth football camp August 8-11 at the OHS football stadium for players entering third through 10th grades. Current and former players will join the coaching staff in leading youth players through offensive, defensive and kicking game drills and games. Owatonna Park and Recreation youth football registration will take place on Wednesday, August 10, during the event.

The high school football season returns to its normal schedule this year after an early start to the season in 2015 due to the availability of TCF Stadium for the Prep Bowl. The Huskies open their season at home versus Mankato West on Friday, September 2. Owatonna's Hall of Fame game is September 9 against Rochester John Marshall.