Playoff Preview: Mayo at Owatonna

Just as the regular season of this odd 2020 prep football campaign began, the revamped section playoffs will end for Owatonna: playing Rochester Mayo at the OHS field. The top-seed, and four-time defending champion, Huskies will host the second-seed Spartans at 7 pm on Tuesday, November 17 in a one-game playoff format. Catch the coverage on AM 1390 KRFO and the free app.

With the three Rochester schools and Northfield ceasing sports midweek while transitioning to distance learning, only Owatonna and Austin would still be available to play after the quarterfinal round on November 17. Section officials made the decision to hold the one-day tournament.

• No. 2 seed Mayo at No. 1 Owatonna
• No. 3 Century vs No. 4 JM, at Mayo Field
• No. 6 Northfield at No. 5 Austin
• All games are scheduled for Tuesday, November 17

Owatonna won the October 10 season opener 35-28 with a come-from-behind fourth quarter rally. The Spartans took a 28-21 lead with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. The Huskies countered with pair of fourth-quarter scores. Brayden Truelson connected with Payton Beyer for a 24-yard touchdown early in the quarter. Tanner Hall ran in from four yards out with three minutes to go for the 35-28 victory. Total yards were quite close, with OHS holding a 331-302 edge. Owatonna turned the ball over twice and Mayo had one giveaway.

OHS has won seven straight over the Spartans and leads the overall series 37-22. Tuesday will mark the seventh head-to-head playoff game since 2009. Owatonna has won four of the previous six.

Owatonna (4-2) results, 2020:

• Win 35-28 vs Mayo
• Win 40-0 at JM
• Win 42-0 vs Century
• Loss 7-6 at Monticello
• Loss 35-14 vs Mankato West
• Win 42-0 at Northfield

Mayo (4-2) results, 2020:

• Loss 35-28 at Owatonna
• Win 34-14 over Century
• Win 52-12 over JM
• Loss 41-17 vs Mankato West
• Win 48-23 over Mankato East
• Win 17-13 over Byron

Hear Jeff Williams' interview from Coaches Show

Rochester Mayo stats (from Minnesota Football Hub at Star Tribune)

• Team rushing: 141 yards per game, allowing 110
• Team passing: 221 yards per game, allowing 100
• Scoring: 28 points per game, allowing 23
• Individual passing: Bennett Ellsworth, 86-for-146, 1,328 yards 10TD, 2Int
• Individual receiving: Cayden Holcomb, 29-475, 2TD
• Individual rushing: DeMonte Simmons, 67-574, 9TD, 8.6/carry, 96/game

Owatonna stats (from Football Hub)

• Team rushing: 156 per game, allowing 60
• Team passing: 171 per game, allowing 78
• Scoring: 30 points per game, allowing 12
• Individual passing: Brayden Truelson, 85-for-146, 1,010 yards 9TD, 8Int
• Individual receiving: Payton Beyer, 40-593, 5TD
• Individual rushing: Tanner Hall, 114-524, 6TD, 4.6/carry, 87/game

Final standings, Big Southeast District, Red Division

• Mankato West 4-0 (5-0 overall)
• Owatonna 4-1 (4-2)
• Mayo 2-2 (4-2)
• Century 2-3 (3-3)
• New Prague 2-1 (2-2)
• John Marshall 1-3 (2-3)
• Northfield 0-5 (0-6)

Final standings, Big Southeast, Blue Division

• Kasson-Mantorville 3-0 (4-1)
• Byron 4-1 (4-2)
• Faribault 3-2 (4-2)
• Mankato East 2-1 (3-3)
• Winona 2-3 (2-4)
• Austin 1-4 (1-5)
• Albert Lea 0-3 (0-3)
• Red Wing 0-1 (0-6)

Last ten games, head-to-head:

• 2013: Owatonna 42-0, playoffs
• 2014: Mayo 42-14
• 2014: Mayo 53-7, playoffs
• 2015: Owatonna 35-14
• 2016: Owatonna 42-21
• 2017: Owatonna 46-7
• 2018: Owatonna 37-9
• 2018: Owatonna 63-28, playoffs
• 2019: Owatonna 31-14
• 2020: Owatonna 35-28
• (OHS has won seven straight and leads overall series 37-22.)

Playoff history, head-to-head, according to our records:

• 1980: Mayo 14-6
• 1989: Mayo 10-7
• 1996: Mayo 20-6
• 1999: Owatonna 24-7
• 2009: Owatonna 35-14
• 2010: Mayo 14-7
• 2012: Owatonna 49-28
• 2013: Owatonna 42-0
• 2014: Mayo 53-7
• 2018: Owatonna 63-28
• (10 playoff meetings, each school has won five times)