Owatonna Takes Control Early

Owatonna football scored early and often Friday night, scoring a 63-0 win at Northfield. OHS put up 21 points in each of the first two quarters and did not punt while improving to 2-0 on the season. Multiple players surpassed 100 yards of offense in a variety of ways.

Ethan Walter amassed about 175 yards between rushing and receiving. Jerez Autridge had about 100 yards rushing. Quarterback Brayden Truelson threw for just over 100 yards. Signal caller Sol Havelka eclipsed 100 yards between throwing the running. Each quarterback had a TD toss.

Matt Williams added some electricity with a 56-yard punt return for a score late in the first quarter. Walter scored two touchdowns. Autridge, Isaac Gefre, Payton Beyer, Tanner Hall, and Logan Gauthier all crossed the goal line.

Owatonna's defense made a statement early by stopping the Raiders on a fourth-down-and-short on Northfield's opening drive. The Huskies scored on the ensuing drive. OHS coach Jeff Williams said on Saturday's KRFO Coaches Show, "We really took care of business. The tone was set in the opening drive...That was a big morale boost for our kids and a little bit deflating for Northfield."

Week-one starting tailback Zach Stransky sat out with an ankle injury suffered against Rochester Century in the opener. But Williams said the team has depth, "Ethan Walter went into his position. On defense, Keenan Young went out to the cornerback position. Really we didn't miss a beat out there. We had six different guys carry the football...Please with the next-man-up mentality our kids have."

The Huskies have fared well in the trenches, "So far, so good. Liam Dublin played a lot of the offensive snaps in place of Ethan Rohman, trying to give Ethan the opportunity to go full speed when he's in the defensive line because he's been so disruptive there...Luke Effertz and Nate Smith have filled in at the guard position now that (Zach) Wiese is over at center taking (Isaiah) Noeldner's spot, at least for the time being."

Williams was pleased with Sam Henson's kicking as he put four of his six kickoffs into the end zone. Henson and Lane Versteeg were a combined nine-for-nine on extra-point tries.

Owatonna will host New Prague Friday, September 13 at 7 pm on KRFO AM 1390 and the KRFO app. The Trojans led Rochester Mayo most of the way in week two, but the Spartans rallied for the late victory.