Mankato West Strikes Quickly, Blanks Owatonna
On the first play from scrimmage Mankato West connected on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Zander Dittbenner to Mekhi Collins to grab a 6-0 lead over Owatonna ten seconds into the game at Todnem Field in Mankato. The top-rated Scarlets went on to win 42-0.
Dittbenner raced in from 38 yards away on West's second drive for a 14-0 lead barely three-and-a-half minutes into the contest. Mankato didn't manage many more explosive plays, but Dittbenner hit three more touchdown passes.
The West defense kept the Huskies stifled with multiple sacks and tackles-for-a-loss. Owatonna was held to under 100 total yards unofficially, most of those coming in the fourth quarter on a long drive by the reserves.
OHS had just one first-half first down, coming on a fourth-down-and-one on their second drive of the game. The Huskies converted a couple of other fourth down plays, including a fourth-and-nine on their final drive of the night.
West led 28-0 at the half and 35-0 after three quarters.
Owatonna senior captain Grant Achterkirch made his season debut at linebacker, wearing a cast on his right hand. Conner Grems returned to the field after getting injured in the opener at Rochester Mayo. Taylor Bogen, who started the first two games at quarterback, was sidelined with a brace on his leg. Cael Dowling started in his place.
Owatonna (1-2) will host Austin on Saturday, September 25 at 1 pm at the OHS football field with coverage on AM 1390 KRFO / 94.7 FM. The Scarlets go to Century next week before hosting Rochester Mayo in two weeks.
Scores from week three of the high school football season
- Mankato West 42, Owatonna 0
- Blooming Prairie 33, United South Central 6
- NRHEG 42, Janesville-Waldrof-Pemberton 0 [Gold Brick Trophy]
- Triton 48, Dover-Eyota 19
- New Prague 56, Austin 30
- Stewartville 35, Faribault 26
- Rochester Mayo 42, Rochester Century 0
- Northfield 31, Rochester John Marshall 7
- Red Wing 38, Albert Lea 14
- Redwood Valley 8, Maple River 7
- Rushford-Peterson 42, Kenyon-Wanamingo 14
- Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 48, Cleveland 6
- Blue Earth Area 48, Jackson County Central 14
- Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial 34, LeSueur-Henderson 6
- Chatfield 30, Caledonia 0
- St. Charles 34, Goodhue 33
- Lakeville South 42, Eden Prairie 7
- St. Thomas Academy 41, Cretin-Derham-Hall 14