Owatonna Football Hopes to end Season with a Win, Raise Big Money to Sack Cancer

The regular season wraps up Friday night at the Owatonna High School football field. Rochester Century comes to town on "Sack Cancer" night.

Since a season-opening loss to defending state champ Mankato West, the Huskies have reeled off six straight wins to secure at least a share of the first Red Division championship in the Big Southeast District. Owatonna seems to have also wrapped up a first-round bye in the playoffs and probably the top seed. That will become official early Saturday when the final QRF rankings are calculated.

Rochester Century (5-2) lost a pair of close games to start the season, 20-14 to Winona in double overtime and 27-20 against Rochester Mayo. Three more losses weren't so close, 41-23 against Red Wing, 35-7 to Rochester JM and 29-12 to Mankato East. The Panthers have won their last two games, 35-21 over New Prague and 20-17 over Northfield in overtime.

Last season's game ended with Owatonna winning 40-37 in overtime in Rochester. The Huskies had to block an extra point attempt at the end of regulation to force overtime.

Friday night's game kicks off at 7PM with coverage beginning at 6:35PM on KRFO AM 1390 and on the RadioPup app. Fans can help the Huskies sack cancer by making donations to "From the Heart" and the "Steele County Relay for Life" when they enter the stadium.

Before the game, Fareway Foods is hosting tailgating from 4-7PM with a bowl of chili and hot dog for $5 with all proceeds benefiting OHS football. Fareway Foods is at 831 South Oak in Owatonna.

Friday night is also Owatonna Foundation Night at the game. Foundation representatives will be handing out prizes at halftime.

Other games in the Big Southeast, Red Division include Rochester Mayo (5-2) at Northfield (2-5). If Owatonna loses and Mayo wins, the teams will share the inaugural Red Division title. Four of Northfield's five losses have come by less than a touchdown. Rochester JM (4-3) plays at New Prague (0-7).

In the Blue Division, a showdown for the title will be held in Winona where the Winhawks host Mankato West in a battle of 7-0 teams. Winona's last unbeaten season was in 1988. The other games are Red Wing (5-2) at Mankato East (4-3) and Austin (0-7) at Faribault (0-7).

Playoffs begin Wednesday, October 14. Teams that get a first-round bye will play their first game on Tuesday, October 20.