OWATONNA FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW, PART I

INDEX

>DETAILS: Nuts-and-bolts preview with list of returning players, stats, projected positions and other basic team preview information.

>FOOTBALL FEATURE: Looking back at 2021 and threading the needle between last year’s squad and how it connects to the new season. Also contains a position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Huskies.

Players: Individual profiles of the top returning contributors. [COMING SOON]

Competition: A breakdown of Owatonna’s regular season opponents and where the Huskies fit within the district-wide picture. [COMING SOON]

DETAILS

HEAD COACH: Jeff Williams, 194-77 (.716 PCT)

ASSISTANT COACHES: Marc Achterkirch, Doug Wanous, Jerry Eggermont, Marc Wiese, Matt Skala, Mark Clauson, Neil Thompson, Nate Skala, Kevin Stelter, Kyle Melcher, Seth Muir, Dean Walters, Steve Zappa, Adam Woitalla, Cole Orlowski, Ben Flack, Danny Hoffman

2022 CAPTAINS: Collin Vick, Trevor Schirmer, Mikah Elstad, Drew Kretlow

2021 RECORD: 6-4 overall, 4-3 Big Southeast District (4th place); Lost 38-33 to Rochester Mayo in Section 1-5A championship game

NOTABLE ATTRITION: Grant Achterkirch (LB), Nick Williams (WR), Eli Spurgeon (OL/DL), Caleb Vereide (DB), Ryley Glassmaker (DL), Dylan Maas (RB), Lane Wagner (DB), Cael Dowling (LB), Trevor Schirmer (OL/DL, *injury)

NOTABLE RETURNING SENIORS:  Drew Henson (PK, District Special Team POY), Collin Vick (DB, all-district), Drew Kretlow (LB, all-district), Conner Grems (RB/LB), Mikah Elstad (OL), Ayden Walter (WR), Carter Johnson (WR), Noah Wellnitz (DB/KR), Dawson Risser (OL), Ethan Anderson (OL/DL), Justin Gleason (TE/DB), Peter Swehla, SR (WR/DB), Isaac Miller (OL/DL), Dez Nichols (RB/OLB)

NOTABLE RETURNING JUNIORS: Owen Beyer (DB), Jacob Ginskey (QB), Torrin Smith (OL/LB), Grant Lower (OL/DL), Caleb Hullopeter (WR), Mitch Seykora (LB/RB)

RETURNING PASSING LEADER: Ginskey 59-for-122, 52.7 COMP%, 780 yards, 11 TD, 11 INT

RETURNING RUSHING LEADERS: Grems 13 carries, 59 yards, 4.5 YPC, 1 TD; Seykora 4 carries, 18 yards, 4.5 YPC, 1 TD; Nichols 13 carries, 37 yards

RETURNING RECEIVING LEADERS: Walter 18 rec., 228 yards, 4 TD; Vick 7 rec., 69 yards; Johnson 5 rec. 43 yards; Hullopeter 4 rec. 59 yards, 1 TD

LEADING RETURNING DEFENDERS: Kretlow 38 tackles (27 solo), 4.5 sacks, 2 FR; Vick 28 tackles (27 solo), 2 INT; Grems 22 tackles (16 solo), 2.0 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF; Beyer 18 tackles (16 solo), 1 INT, 1 FF, 5 PD; Smith 11 tackles (7 solo); Anderson 11 tackles (8 solo), 1.0 sack

LEADERING SPECIAL TEAMS RETURNERS: Henson 9-for-10 FG, 29-31 XPT; Wellnitz 8 KR, 159 yards, 1 TD; Hullopeter 5 KR, 89 yards

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FOOTBALL FEATURE

Injuries drove the Huskies down an unfamiliar path in 2021, but they never derailed. Now, Owatonna has a fresh start and aiming full speed ahead.

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Like most astute football coaches, Jeff Williams is never entirely comfortable with his roster heading into a new season — any new season. Not even Owatonna’s decade-long string of supreme on-field success disqualifies him from this reality. If anything, it amplifies it.

You see, regardless of how much talent his squad returns from the previous year — regardless of how much experience he believes his roster possesses — there’s always a few significant holes to fill. Always a few tweaks to be made. Always a few key position battles to be won.

Amidst this prevalent apprehension, though, Williams has found success by remaining pragmatic and forward-thinking. There is nuance to every circumstance and guiding a high school football program isn’t a rigid, black and white process.

For instance, he probably approached things differently prior to the state championship seasons of 2013, 2017 and 2018 than he did heading into last season. It was around this time last year when Williams was just beginning the process of shaping the basic foundation of what would ultimately grow into the 2021 Owatonna football team, prioritizing the sizeable catalogue of positions vacated by a large and talented outgoing senior class. In total, more than 85% of his starting positions were open as two-a-days kicked off in mid-August and just one reigning all-district player on the roster.

Fast forward to present day — the late summer of 2022 — and Williams once again finds himself in full-scale evaluation mode and taking inventory of his returning athletes, but his level of overall concern has likely been softened just a tad. Furthermore, when contrasted against what many of his fellow coaches in the Big Southeast District are facing entering the new season, Williams’ disposition appears downright tranquil in a league that saw 63 of the 80 all-district spots occupied by outgoing seniors in 2021.

The fact that Owatonna’s roster possesses more raw experience than the most of his fellow district opponents doesn’t escape Williams, but it also doesn’t influence how he steers his ship. Every high school team is affected by the inevitable reality of attrition, and he is solely fixated on guiding his own program — a program that is inching closer to the version that recently competed in four Prep Bowl contests in the seven seasons between 2012 and 2018.

“You always look on paper and say this team is going to have more success because they return more letterwinners than that team, but that’s not how this usually works out,” Williams said. “We still expect our returning players — our captains — to take that next step in their development as well. It’s up to them to find the motivation to find that next level. Because we still have a lot to work out (before Week 1).”

On paper, the Huskies are, indeed, a bit more stable than they were entering 2021 when they were tasked with replacing 17 starters, including a rare three-year quarterback, a record-breaking receiver and numerous two-year linemen. From the beginning of two-a-days, the staff was nudged down an uneasy path when attempting to fill its top rotations and forced to deploy more sophomores than they probably would have preferred at the time. By Week 5, the Huskies’ two-deep depth charts featured more 10th-graders than the previous three years combined.     

Aside from the predictable turnover due to graduation, it was an unpredictable series of injuries that served as the main impetus behind the Huskies’ youth movement last year, which stretched an already inexperienced roster to its very limits within the season’s first 45 days. Beginning at two-a-days, Owatonna cycled through four different No. 1 quarterbacks in the first calendar month and reordered, rearranged, restructured and recalibrated its lineup within every position group at some point during the three-month campaign.

OHS didn’t take the field anywhere near whatever version of “full strength” still existed on its roster until around Week 8. In reality, though, the Huskies’ chances of deploying its honest No. 1 platoon vanished the moment the program’s top quarterback, Grant Achterkirch, broke a bone in his throwing hand during a late-August practice just days before the team’s annual preseason scrimmages. Achterkirch eventually recovered and retained his position as the Huskies’ game-changing middle linebacker, but he didn’t throw a pass in a game last season. His injury also proved to be a premonition of things to come.

Preseason all-state running back/linebacker Conner Grems rolled his ankle in the second quarter in Week 1 and missed the next two games while breakout defensive end, Ryley Glassmaker, spent two separate stints on the injured list due to a variety of minor ailments. Achterkirch’s immediate replacement at quarterback, Taylor Bogen, lasted just two games before he was lost for the season with a leg injury. Receiver Justin Gleason didn’t even suit up in a single game after suffering a serious leg injury prior to the season.

Yet despite the obvious complications that repeatedly beset the Huskies, the staff always seemed to find a way to piece together a productive lineup using a combination of spare parts and sophomores. And though they might have been limping half the time, the players always seemed to muster just enough strength to fall forward, avoiding stagnation every step of the way.

Eventually, the Huskies emerged from the haze of a 1-2 start and won five of their next six games, earning the No. 2 seed in the Section 1-5A tournament in the process and dispatching of Northfield in their playoff opener.

Next up was a Week 1 rematch against top-seeded Rochester Mayo on the road and Owatonna immediately established that it was going to provide a far greater challenge than perhaps the top-seeded Spartans had expected. The Huskies raced out to a 23-7 lead and found themselves on the precipice of an improbable state tournament berth.

That was until the mistakes started mounting and the Spartans started scoring.

Taking advantage of some costly Owatonna turnovers and a few untimely lapses in execution, Mayo predictably found their stride, rallied back in front of its spirited home fans and fended off the Huskies’ final salvo late in the fourth quarter. Mayo won 38-33 and scored the go-ahead touchdown with roughly 7 minutes, 30 seconds on the clock before making a game-clinching defensive stand deep in its own territory on the ensuing OHS possession.

From a pure execution standpoint, the back-and-forth slugfest against the Spartans was one of the Huskies’ finest rushing performances in a couple years and plenty of individuals performance admirably on both sides of the ball. However, the prevailing sentiment in the aftermath of the contest was that the better team simply won that night and proved this notion where it counted the most: On the field.

Bottom line, Mayo was just better last year. Not only did the Spartans defeat the Huskies, 58-31, in the season-opener, but was flush with experienced talent at every level and took advantage of a comparatively inexperienced Owatonna opponent that might not have been ready thrive on such a stage. For one of the few times in the last decade, the Huskies felt what it was like to play the underdog and come up painfully short against an opponent with a perceptible advantage in overall skill and depth. Owatonna demonstrated that it could trade punches with the Spartans, but landing the knockout blow proved to be a different story.

Now, nearly nine months removed from the season-ending defeat in Rochester, the Huskies can only hope that 2021’s tribulations will transform into 2022’s triumphs. If there’s any truth to this age-old axiom, it could be a fun couple of months for a football program that has set a unique standard of excellence.

Intangible components aside, there is a lot to like about this year’s OHS squad. The Huskies boast cornerstone athletes all over the field and are oozing with potential breakout stars, all of which will help curtail the loss of 15 combined starters to graduation or injury.

Collin Vick (defensive back) and Drew Kretlow (linebacker) each made all-district and placekicker Drew Henson was named the Big Southeast Special Teams Player of the Year and is a legitimate game-changing weapon.

Players like cornerback Owen Beyer, running back Conner Grems and quarterback Jacob Ginskey didn’t garner postseason accolades last year, but were regular starters and few would be surprised if both emerged within the upper echelon of their respective position groups in the Big Southeast District.

As for the guys that won’t return, the most notable name — or perhaps the player who will be the most difficult to replace — is reigning all-district two-way lineman, Trevor Schirmer. The current senior tore his ACL in June and his loss is especially harsh on a number of levels. After starting every game as a junior, Schirmer was elected one of the captains of this year’s squad and would have been the undisputed anchor up front. He had worked particularly hard in the weight room this past offseason and added a solid 10-15 pounds of muscle to his already formidable 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame.

Without the its best player and undisputed leader, the top linemen rotations on both sides of the ball remain the team’s biggest question mark as preseason kicks off.

Keep scrolling for a complete position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Owatonna Huskies:

Position Breakdown: LINEBACKERS

At the second level, Drew Kretlow is the unflinching cornerstone and quintessential, hard-nosed tackling machine in the middle. He has a strong core and leverages his powerful lower-body strength to finish tackles in tight spaces.

Conner Grems started every game he was healthy at OLB last year, but he will shift to offense full-time this year, leaving room for a player like Mitch Seykora (5-11, 170) to make an immediate impact as a rookie. The incoming junior was invited to suit up with the varsity in the middle the regular season last year and saw limited action in two games.

Owen Korbel, Dez Nichols and Brady Hansen each return and will fill the remaining linebacker spots along with a host of incoming juniors.

“We expect a lot from Drew (Kretlow),” Williams said. “We aren’t overly-deep at linebacker. We are going to have to find some guys who can fill a couple spots.”

POSITION PLOT: As good as Kretlow is, Owatonna’s best defenses have traditionally featured at least two all-district caliber players at the position. If the Huskies plan on taking the next step and returning to the state tournament this season, someone will have to step up and transform into Kretlow’s comparable sidekick. 

Position Breakdown: DEFENSIVE BACKS

The back end of the defense is perhaps where Owatonna possesses the strongest top-to-bottom depth. Collin Vick and Owen Beyer complement each other well and spearhead a position group that always seems flush with capable, ready-made athletes within Owatonna’s system.

Noah Wellnitz is tailor made to jump directly into the starting lineup after seeing the field in every game as a key reserve last season. He is one of the quickest athletes on the team and a top-notch kick returner.

“We have Owen out there on my side (of the field) and he’s a lock-down cornerback,” Vick said after the second day of practice on Aug. 16. “Having him come back is really awesome. And then on the other side, Wellnitz saw some time and started against Kasson (in Week 8) so it will be nice just having another experienced guy on the other side.”

Perhaps the most preseason intrigue surrounding the defensive secondary is the potential addition of senior Justin Gleason. Battling for the No. 1 gig at strong cornerback — a distinct position within Owatonna’s scheme that basically combines the skills of an outside linebacker and a defensive back — Gleason would bring a unique level of physicality to the unit based on his well-built 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. He also boasts the raw speed to keep up with any receiver he might face in the Big Southeast District and logged a significant amount of playing time at the position as a B-Squad player in 2020.

“He’s kind of that x-factor,” Vick said. “Being a state champion long-jumper with his speed will be nice to have back there.”

Added Williams of Gleason: “I think we are all anxious to see what we have in Justin. He has all the physical tools, but now it’s about translating those tools onto the field.”

Peter Swehla is fast and athletic — running the 40-yard dash in roughly 4.8 seconds — and is motivated to make in impact as a senior after finding himself buried behind two all-district players, a two-year starter and a young sophomore upstart last fall.

POSITION PLOT: Is Owatonna as good as they look on paper in the defensive secondary? That is going to be the biggest storyline as the unit solidifies during the early portion of the season.

Position Breakdown: LINEMEN

Schirmer’s absence leaves just two offensive starters — center Mikah Elstad (5-11, 215) and guard Ethan Anderson (6-2, 215) — lingering from the regular starting unit from last season, which isn’t abnormal in an objective sense. Owatonna’s offensive lines are traditionally occupied with at least three seniors on an annual basis and high turnover is a situation the Huskies have faced many times in the past. But unexpectedly losing a high-impact player like Schirmer provides an entirely unique set of challenges.

“It was really tough losing Schirmer,” Elstad said on the second day of practice on Aug. 16. “He was obviously a big part of our team. We have been working really hard to find someone to fill his spot and to find someone to step up and take his position ever since team camp.”

Surrounding Elstad and Anderson on the offensive front and helping compensate for Schirmer’s absence will be a mix of names that played sparingly last fall, or will be entering the varsity rotation for the first time. Dawson Risser (5-10, 215) drew a few starts as a junior and will remain in the mix on the interior along with classmate Isaac Miller (6-0, 200). Torrin Smith is a leading candidate to secure one of the open positions on the edge of the o-line and is still adding bulk to his 6-foot, 215-pound frame.

“One of the things that’s going to help us win, and help us gel, comes down to chemistry,” Elstad said of the offensive line. “That’s always how it works, because if you can count on the guys next to you, you know things are going to go well.”

It’s possible that Smith and Anderson start on both sides of the ball early in the season and against the Huskies’ top opponents throughout the entire schedule. Junior Grant Lower (6-3, 270) will be in the mix to secure a pivotal spot at defensive tackle and is also one of the top candidates to lock down a starting position at offensive tackle.

Similar to last season, the staff might be forced to dip into the sophomore class to solidify its depth on the defensive front.

POSITION PLOT: It’s impossible to candidly appraise the state of the offensive and defensive lines without Schirmer’s absence being baked into the equation — that’s unavoidable when a player of his ilk is unexpectedly lost for the entire season just two months prior to the first day of practice. Though there’s never an ideal circumstance to have your best player at any position go down, the fact that Schirmer tore his ACL in June leaves plenty of time for the staff to assess all of their options and fully-leverage the important three-week evaluation period leading into the season-opener.

Position Breakdown: BALL CARRIERS

Even with last-season’s leading rusher by a wide margin off to college, one could argue Owatonna retains its most promising ball-carrier from 2021 in Conner Grems. On paper, the incoming senior checks all the boxes of a distinctive workhorse tailback. He’s fast, strong, and experienced, logging extensive playing time as the team’s lead runner on the B-Squad in 2020.

“He’s a tough, physical back,” Williams said of Grems. “He’s very strong and worked very hard in the offseason. I’m hoping he can pop a few and give this offense an extra dimension.”

Grems has shown the ability to thrive against his age level and was poised to assume a featured role on offense last year before suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1. Despite playing only about 75% of his junior season, college scouts took notice of his excellent measurables and started contacting Grems last winter and continue to inquire about his services to this day. His list of potential suitors includes programs at all three levels of the NCAA and his first visit was to Division I FCS powerhouse, South Dakota State, last March. He could see his stock rise a whole new plateau if he can get off to a strong start and stay on the field this fall.

Again, if he can stay on the field. And that goes all the primary ball-carriers.

Outside of Grems, Owatonna’s experience becomes a tad thin and the Huskies were reminded last year just how much a single injury can impact the entire team. Mitch Seykora has been the No. 1 running back for his grade level for years and scored his first career touchdown last season in mop-up duty against Austin in Week 4.

Varsity newcomer Keanan Larson offers track-level speed — clocking a personal-best 11.25 seconds in the 100-meter dash last spring and posting one of the top three 40-yard dash times on the football team this August — and had made his way into the rotation early in preseason practice. There is potential for the incoming junior absorb a regular role within the offense if he demonstrates that he’s physically and mentally prepared to absorb the heightened responsibilities.

Behind Larson, the balance of the touches will be shared between a host of players with little-to-no experience at the top level. 

Grant Achterkirch took the mantle as program’s latest game-changing fullback last season and provided further validation that Owatonna’s wide-open offensive attack hasn’t evolved beyond the position.

In fact, just the opposite.

Harvesting talent from same crop of athletes that the defensive staff exploits to fill the majority of its linebacker rotations, Jeff Williams has uniquely integrated the fullback into his overall offensive scheme and fashioned somewhat of a hybrid situation that blends the primary responsibilities of two different positions. Similar in how he deployed Achterkirch — and many others before him — the incumbent might be asked to block out of the backfield one play and set up on the line of scrimmage and run a pass route the next.

On paper, Drew Kretlow fits the prototype mold of a bruising lead-blocker and could ultimately soak up the bulk of the snaps against Owatonna’s toughest opponents at fullback. He is a strong ball-carrier and will flatten his share of defenders paving the way out of the backfield, but he might cede snaps during obvious passing situations.

POSITION PLOT: Starting from the opening whistle of two-a-days, one of the main objectives for the coaching staff will be building a layer of depth behind Grems and — at least in an ideal world — formulate a rough 80-15-5 platoon between three options.

Position Breakdown: QUARTERBACKS

Handed the keys to the Huskies’ offense by pure necessity after the program’s top three signal-callers either suffered significant injuries or were asked to absorb alternate full-time responsibilities, Jacob Ginskey was Owatonna’s starting quarterback for the final seven games of 2021.

In one of the finest statistical debuts at his position in program history, Ginskey completed 73% of his passes for 195 yards and tossed four touchdowns against Austin in Week 4. Two weeks later, he put together a dazzling encore performance when he posted a line that read: 17-for-24, 222 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in a blowout win over Rochester John Marshall.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ginskey’s production dipped from his lofty start and his numbers leveled off as the competition intensified down the stretch. Three of Owatonna’s final four games (including playoffs) came against teams that finished with a combined winning percentage of .742 and he completed just 13 total passes and threw five interceptions against three touchdowns in those contests.

Put into proper perspective, though, Ginskey’s inconsistencies can be attributed to a range of mitigating factors — everything from awful weather, to unique defensive game plans, to plain-old inexperience — and are not indicative of his potential at the position, because it’s his job to lose moving forward.

Ginskey’s preseason outlook couldn’t be further from where it started last year and it will be intriguing to see how he responds with a full offseason of preparation as the No. 1 QB and the entire playbook at his disposal. Ultimately, if the numbers he produced against Austin and JM are merely an indication of his statistical ceiling, OHS will be in great shape at the position for the foreseeable future.   

“He wants to be the guy,” Williams said. “He’s gone to camps and he spent time with us in the offseason. He understands the type of throws that he needs to make and the type of leadership he will have to display. He is one of those kids who is uncommonly intelligent and I think he’s ready to take that next step.”

Noah Wellnitz has developed into one of the primary backups at quarterback during two-a-days, but the Huskies would lose their best kick-returner and potential defensive starter if he’s forced to fill-in for Ginskey at any point.

POSITION PLOT: Inevitably, Ginskey will take a step forward in his overall growth as the administrator of the offense, but just how much he improves is one of several key factors that will determine the Huskies’ prowess this season. Fortunately, he’s surrounded by a burgeoning and diverse set of skill position teammates, so he won’t be forced to shoulder the entire offensive load by himself.

Position Breakdown: PASS CATCHERS

Incoming senior Ayden Walter posted two multi-touchdown games last season and caught nearly 20 passes out of the slot, or Y position. He will be joined at receiver by a combination of talent from a few different grade levels, all of which should benefit greatly from increased stability at quarterback.

Caleb Hullopeter has a knack for the ball and caught his first career touchdown against Austin as a sophomore last year. The staff loves his innate pass-catching abilities and it’s easy to appreciate why they’re so high on him based on a number of factors. He not only flashed serious playmaking ability in limited action, but produced some eye-catching numbers at the sub-varsity levels as a freshman in 2020.

“He can go get the ball as well as anyone,” Williams said of Hullopeter.

Collin Vick will be asked to retain his duties as the anchor of the defensive secondary, but possesses excellent pass-catching traits and could find himself pitching-in out wide based on the situation. Despite catching a pass in just four different games last year, Vick finished third amongst receivers in receptions (7) and yards (69).

Carter Johnson stands nearly 6-foot-3 and should have the opportunity to blow past his production from last season (4 catches, 49 yards). He is a strong track and field athlete and his leaping ability should translate well to the gridiron.

Two other athletes that contributed to Owatonna’s superb track and field success last spring — Owen Korbel (6-1, 195) and Justin Gleason (6-3, 205) — will be in the mix at receiver and tight end, respectively. Gleason owns a rare combination of size, speed and natural athleticism and there is a reality in which he emerges as a key offensive weapon at some point this season, perhaps from Day 1.

Korbel is a few inches shorter than Gleason, but still weighs close to 200 pounds and boasts excellent leaping ability. Trey Ulrich (6-0, 185) will add depth to the tight end spot and has good speed for the position (4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash).

POSITION PLOT: There are plenty of athletes to choose from in two different classes, but one big question remains: Who is going to take the mantle of Owatonna’s traditional field-stretching receiver out wide? It should be noted that the Huskies found themselves in a similar position last preseason and Nick Williams promptly stepped into the role and produced an all-district campaign.

Position Breakdown: SPECIALISTS

When highlighting the Huskies’ special teams, there is only one place to start.

And that’s with Drew Henson.

Beginning the season as the logical next-man-up in Owatonna’s renowned kicking assembly line, Henson seized the opportunity from the get-go and took the Big Southeast District by storm, producing one of the finest placekicking seasons in OHS program history —if not the finest.

Regularly lauded by Jeff Williams as a bona-fide game-changing asset on two different levels, Henson was nearly automatic on field goals (9-for-10) and extra points (29-for-31) and was one of MSHSL leaders in touchbacks. He proved capable of making kicks in adverse weather conditions and during high-stress situations — sometimes all in the same play. He also boomed a pair of field goals of 40-plus yards and his only miss came on a botched snap. Bottom line, owning a kicker with Henson’s range and overall skillset is a unique luxury and the byproduct of a program that takes pride in developing the position.

In the return game, the Huskies retain their top performer from last season in Noah Wellnitz. The senior accounted for Owatonna’s lone special teams touchdown in 2021 — returning a kickoff 80-plus yards against Kasson-Mantorville — and averaged 19.9 yards per return overall.

Primary punt-returning duties will likely be divided between a few players with Walter and Wellnitz being two of the main candidates to absorb the bulk of the responsibilities vacated by outgoing senior Lane Wagner.

Owatonna graduated last season’s punter, Eli Knutson, and there are several potential candidates who could seize the job.

POSITION PLOT: The Huskies retain their prized all-state kicker and best returner from last season, so there isn’t a ton of drama as the team gathers for two-a-days.