Football Preview: Owatonna at Northfield

Owatonna is looking to rebound from rare back-to-back losses and get tuned up for the playoffs. Northfield is possibly playing their final game of the season after an announcement Tuesday that the district is transitioning to distance learning soon.

The Huskies (3-2) seemingly have the top-seed in Section 1-5A wrapped up with wins over all three Rochester schools. Northfield (0-5) has had a couple of very close games with a 30-28 double-overtime loss to Faribault in week 1 and a 21-14 setback against John Marshall in week 4. Even last week, the Raiders were a two-point conversion away from making it a one-score game against Century in the fourth quarter before falling 34-17.

OHS coach Jeff Williams is thinking about tonight's game, but also the playoffs past that, "We have the potential for three games now in inclement weather. We've played late into November before. The thought process now is we need to get better in the run game. We need to find ways to move chains, to get a few big plays with the threat of wind and cold and snow."

Longtime Raiders coach Bubba Sullivan said he is mostly concerned with his team staying consistent and playing hard throughout the game, "Over the last several weeks we really talked to the guys about focusing on ourselves. Trying to continue to improve throughout the season...The Huskies are a very good club. They've got lots of talent spread out across the field."

I spoke with Sullivan before Tuesday's announcement that Northfield was going to distance learning and that sports would cease November 18.

Since Northfield rejoined the Big Nine Conference, Owatonna owns a 6-3 record against the Raiders and has won the last three. The last Northfield win was Owatonna's only blemish in the state championship 2017 season. Overall, the Indians/Huskies have a 42-11-1 advantage head-to-head.

Football schedule, Wednesday, November 11 (subject to change)
Owatonna at Northfield, 7 pm on AM 1390 KRFO (no streaming)
Blooming Prairie at Fillmore Central, 7 pm on Kat Kountry 105 FM
Medford at Triton, 7 pm on The Mighty 920 KDHL
Faribault at Albert Lea, 7 pm on Power 96
Byron at Rochester Mayo
Goodhue at Randolph
Hayfield at Rushford-Peterson
Mankato East at Austin
Maple River at Blue Earth Area
New Prague at Rochester Century
Rochester JM at Mankato West
St. Peter at Tri-City United
United South Central at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
Winona at Kasson-Mantorville
Winona Cotter at Faribault Bethlehem Academy
Cancelled:
Waseca at Belle Plaine
Pine Island at Lake City

Thursday, November 12
NRHEG vs TBD, possible coverage on Kat Kountry 105 FM
Stewartville at Red Wing
Rochester Lourdes at Chatfield
Cannon Falls at Plainview-Elgin-Millville
Cancelled:
Dover-Eyota at St. Charles