First report on the game


Aaron Peterson

Owatonna remained undefeated after defeating St. Michael-Albertville 27-7 in the Class 5A state football semifinals Friday at the Metrodome.

The Huskies' first drive might have predicted weakness after an interception at their 31-yard line, but Owatonna’s defense handled the Knights’ offense and came back to score first. Senior quarterback Ian Langeberg passed to senior wide receiver Sam Fenske for a 30-yard touchdown about halfway through the first quarter.

Owatonna (12-0) scored again early in the second with a 7-yard run from senior running back Aaron Peterson. The Knights (10-2) pulled one back about six minutes beforeo halftime on junior quarterback Jackson Greenwaldt’s 23-yard pass to senior wide receiver Matt Kisch. 

Owatonna extended its lead after the break. Peterson tallied his second touchdown of the game with a 34-yard run early in the third quarter.

Senior kicker Carter McCauley added a 38-yard field goal a few minutes later Owatonna intercerpted a St. Michael-Albertville pass. He kicked another toward the end of the quarter, this time at 42 yards, to complete the scoring.

Recap: A lesser-known AP lit up the Metrodome scoreboard Friday. Instead of Vikings star Adrian Peterson, Owatonna’s less-heralded senior running back Aaron Peterson scored two touchdowns in his team’s Class 5A state semifinal victory over St. Michael-Albertville. Peterson scored on a 7-yard run in the second quarter and a 34-yarder in the third. The Huskies (12-0) will make their second consecutive trip to the championship game. They lost 49-21 to Totino-Grace in 2012.

Key of the game: Turnovers changed the game at several key moments. The Huskies threw an interception on their first drive, but then stifled the Knights’ offense. That was the Huskies’ only turnover, while the Knights had two interceptions and a fumble, two of those turnovers thwarted opportune scoring chances.

Quote: “It was big. [Turnovers] helped us keep them out of the game, so to say. We had a couple of big red-zone turnovers that we got back, and that really helped keep us in front a ways and help keep the game pretty comfortable for us.” — Owatonna’s Peterson on the miscues

One thing to know: Junior quarterback Jackson Greenwaldt combined with senior wide receiver Matt Kisch for the Knights’ lone touchdown in the second quarter. The 23-yarder put the Knights within 14-7 at halftime. They finished their season with a 10-2 record.

MEGAN RYAN