Owatonna outduels West for Big Nine title

By Chad Courrier

OWATONNA — Owatonna has the top offense in the Big Nine Conference, averaging 400.4 yards and 42.0 points per game, but Mankato West’s defense was equal to that challenge.

But what gets overlooked is how good the Huskies’ defense has played, limiting teams to only 171.2 yards and 7.8 points. West was unable to overcome that.

“Win or lose, this was going to be a learning experience for us,” West coach Mark Esch said. “We took our first loss, and we lost the Big Nine (Conference) championship. But our main goal is to win the section and win a state championship.”

Two early turnovers gave Owatonna the lead, and the Scarlets were never able to get back ahead as the Huskies claimed a 17-10 victory and the conference championship Wednesday. It was the second straight league title for Owatonna and denied the Scarlets the first Big Nine championship in school history.

“We’ve been playing together since elementary school, we’ve grown up together,” senior safety Ben Dobson said. “We always have the mindset that we’re not going to lose, and the Big Nine championship is one of those things that means so much to you.”

Owatonna (7-1, 7-0 in Big Nine) took advantage of an interception to score the first points of the game. Taking over at their 48, the Huskies moved 52 yards in 13 plays, eating 5:40 and scoring on fourth-and-goal from the 1. Collin Wencl scored his Big Nine-leading 12th rushing touchdown, and Billy Emanuel’s PAT made it 7-0 with 2:14 to play in the first quarter.

“They play straight, hard-nosed football,” Dobson said. “You know on every play you’re going to get the chance to hit somebody as hard as you can.”

The Scarlets fumbled deep in their own end in the second quarter, but the defense held, forcing Emanuel to kick a 24-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead that lasted until halftime.

“We knew that the team that made turnovers or got a big return would have an advantage,” quarterback Ray Teachout said. “I made some mistakes.”

West scored on its first drive of the third quarter, moving 67 yards in 12 plays. Paul Berndt, who rushed for 26 yards in the possession, scored on a 9-yard screen pass from Teachout, and Adam Athey’s PAT pulled West within 10-7 with 8:08 to play in the quarter.

“I thought we were right in it (at halftime),” Esch said. “The defense played about as well as they could.”

However, Owatonna answered on its next possession with a 12-play, 66-yard drive that lasted 5:59, capped by fullback Adam Troy’s 2-yard run and a 17-7 lead.

West got a turnover midway through the fourth quarter and advanced the ball to Owatonna’s 1, but two plays later, Athey had to kick a 20-yard field goal that made it 17-10 with 4:07 to play.

Owatonna took over and ran out the clock, aided by an offside penalty on the Scarlets.

“It’s really disappointing,” Teachout said. “We have bigger goals, but it would have been nice to have a Big Nine title.”

Owatonna managed only 186 yards, with 102 yards coming in the second half without a pass attempt. Huskies quarterback Neil Eddy left the game early in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. West had 219 yards of offense, with Teachout completing 11 of 21 passes for 137 yards. He was 8 of 12 in the second half for 110 yards and the touchdown. Berndt was the West’s leading rusher with 70 yards on 13 carries.

West (7-1, 6-1) is the No. 1 seed for the Section 2AAAA playoffs, which open Tuesday. The Scarlets host Mound Westonka at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Todnem Field.