| Bring on Lakeville |
By: IAN STAUFFER
istauffer@owatonna.com
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Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:01 pm
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Owatonna junior Collin Wencl (5) runs for a touchdown. Wencl tied a school record with five touchdowns on Saturday night at RCTC and broke the school record with 21 touchdowns on the year.
Matt Vargason
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ROCHESTER — Jeff Williams never expected to say the words, “Number two offense,” Saturday night. Who would when playing the No. 8 team in the state and top seed in the section?
“I expected this game to be a dogfight,” Williams said. “I’m sure Century did too.”
It wasn’t. The Owatonna football team forced nine turnovers, recorded seven sacks and broke at least four school records in a 63-22 thrashing of Rochester Century in a Section 1AAAAA semifinal game at RCTC.
Junior running back Collin Wencl tied a school record with five touchdowns in a game, including an 88-yard kickoff return for a score, and broke a 10-year-old record for touchdowns in a season. Wencl has scored 21 times this season, breaking Brandon Hagen’s record of 19.
“My name will be the one in the record book, but the linemen should be there, too,” said Wencl, who had 206 all-purpose yards in the game. “The holes were huge all night. Century was a good team. I mean, 63 points? These guys were eighth in the state.”
Owatonna will now play at Lakeville North at 7 p.m. Friday in the section championship. North beat Lakeville South 12-6 in overtime in the other semifinal game. Owatonna also played at North in the section final two years ago, and lost to the Panthers last year in a section semifinal at OHS.
Forty-two of Owatonna’s points came off turnovers Saturday night. The nine forced turnovers — six interceptions and three fumbles — is likely a record, but does not appear in the school record book. The 63 points in a playoff game is also a school record. Nine of those points came on extra points by sophomore Logan Busho, also a school record.
“Our guys really came out with a lot of fire and enthusiasm, and why wouldn’t they?” Williams said. “These guys beat us 28-21 six weeks ago after we were up on them by three scores. It was the section semifinals. Why wouldn’t our guys be fired up?”
The Huskies’ only two punts in the game came on their first two drives — both three-and-outs. Tyler Thomas intercepted Century’s Nick Beise on the Panthers’ second drive and returned it 37 yards to the Century 18-yard line.
Four plays later, Wencl ran in from three yards out for his first score.
A fumble on Century’s next drive gave Owatonna another short field and set up another 3-yard touchdown by Wencl.
The Panthers got their offense going after that and cut the lead to 14-7 with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Jared Malone to Ryan Eversman. Malone was back in the game after injuring his hand on the first play.
Wencl returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a score, and Century never got close after that. The Panthers’ final four drives of the half all ended with turnovers or punts. Owatonna, meanwhile, got another touchdown run from Wencl and a 47-yard touchdown pass from Sheridan Skala to Taylor Hedberg and took a 35-7 lead into the half.
Skala scored a touchdown of his own on the first drive of the second half when he intercepted a Malone pass and returned it 44 yards for a score. Skala also intercepted a pass in the first half and has six on the season, one away from Kyle Melcher’s school record. Brian Varagson, Will VanDuzer and Jon Zuniga also had interceptions.
“Our coaches got us prepared all week and we went out and executed like we’re supposed to,” Skala said. “It’s always nice when our defensive line and linebackers are getting pressure. The quarterback doesn’t know what to do, and just throws it up there.”
Wencl had another touchdown run, Dylan Wondra scored from 22 yards and Micky Kyei scored on a 3-yard run to finish Owatonna’s scoring.
“Collin is an amazing back,” Skala said. “If you give him even a centimeter in the hole, he’s gone. With the way our line played tonight, there was no stopping Collin.”
Owatonna only had 272 total yards in the game, but started most of its drives inside Century territory. Wencl led the way with 87 rushing yards and Wondra had 67 yards.
The Panthers had 226 total yards, including 149 passing yards by Malone, who was 9-for-18 with five interceptions and two touchdowns.
Huskies 63, Panthers 22
Owatonna 14 21 21 7 – 63
Century 0 7 0 15 – 22
FIRST QUARTER
O-Collin Wencl 3 run (Logan Busho kick) 4:23
O-Wencl 3 run (Busho kick) :25
SECOND QUARTER
RC-Ryan Forsman 50 pass from Jared Malone (Tate Dison kick) 10:19
O-Wencl 88 kick return (Busho kick) 10:06
O-Wencl 15 run (Busho kick) 7:33
O-Taylor Hedberg 47 pass from Sheridan Skala (Busho kick) 1:50
THIRD QUARTER
O-Skala 44 interception return (Busho kick) 10:21
O-Wencl 6 run (Busho kick) 6:38
O-Dylan Wondra 22 run (Busho kick) :44
FOURTH QUARTER
RC-Forsman 24 pass from Malone (Dison kick) 9:25
O-Micky Kyei 3 run (Busho kick) 8:00
RC-Dan Fleissner 8 pass from Nick Beise (Kris Svuem pass from Mike Hanson) 2:18
Owa RC
First downs 12 10
Rushes-yards 48-225 27-28
Pass comp-att-int 1-3-0 13-24-6
Pass yards 47 198
Total plays-yards 51-272 51-226
Fumbles-lost 2-1 5-3
Penalties-yards 4-45 3-15
Punts-avg. 2-37 2-41.5
Sacks 7 2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing—Owatonna, Wencl 20-87, Wondra 7-67, Jesse Ebeling 3-51, Andrew Kern 5-16, Kyei 3-10, Jon Zuniga 2-5, Preston Burns 2-4, Syd Simon 1-0, Matt Simon 1-0, Skala 4-(minus 15); Century, Carson Fossum 7-19, Malone 17-10, Mitchell Brown 1-1, Chad Zastrow 2-(minus 2).
Passing—Owatonna, Skala 1-3-0-47; Century, Malone 9-18-5-149, Beise 4-6-1-49.
Receiving—Owatonna, Hedberg 1-47; Century, Forsman 4-111, Kyle Menkosky 3-39, Fleissner 3-23, Mike Hanson 1-15, Svuem 2-10.
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Member Opinions:
By: trueblue on 10/31/09
This makes me happy.
By: atlascollapsed on 11/1/09
That was a KINGSIZE can of whoopass the team opened up on Century. Great Job to all involved!
By: ET on 11/1/09
Boys, you were AWESOME!!! Defense, you were incredible! We will beat Lakeville!!! Owatonna, be there, will we be able to provide a band?
By: ET on 11/1/09
I just cannot say enough for these boys! Huskies, so totally PROUD of you!!! I truly hope that our community is there on Friday to watch you beat Lakeville!!
By: huskysportsnut on 11/1/09
Coach Williams was correct last week when he said it is tough to beat a team twice in a season before the Mayo game. The Huskies did it against Mayo. Century didn't against Owatonna. This was a truly amazing performance from a great group of young men. There was no let up. This team may have come into the playoffs with three losses but remember back to the last time the Huskies played for a state championship,they were 4-4 entering the playoffs. Lakeville North will be a tough opponent and it will take everything we have to beat them. Don't bet against the Huskies. They seem very determined for the season to continue. Great job guys. That was a game you will remember forever. Unfortunately for Century, they will too!!!
By: secretsquirrel on 11/1/09
I had expected the Huskies to pull this one off but I never expected them to leave such big bruises! LOL CONGRATULATIONS HUSKIES!
By: Whereiscommonsense on 11/1/09
Incredible game, excellent effort and awesome results...CONGRATULATIONS to the entire team. Great job preparing for the Century game and best wishes as you prepare for Lakeville North and march towards a well deserved championship.
By: Mr_Kite on 11/1/09
Will our band get to perform on their field this year?
By: secretsquirrel on 11/2/09
Aaaah! The celebrated Mr_Kite! Sorry, they have already cut a deal with Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band for that game.
By: Mr_Kite on 11/2/09
SS a true fan you must be.
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