Owatonna quarterback Abe Havelka and Twins catcher Joe Mauer share an April 19 birthday.

Now they share a spot in the record books. Havelka threw for 451 yards and seven touchdowns, the latter putting him one behind the state record and into a crowded runner-up list that includes Mauer, a former Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback.

“Pretty cool,” said Havelka, who was hot throughout the Huskies’ 56-28 victory against Brainerd the Class 5A semifinal Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The victory sends Owatonna (11-1) to the Prep Bowl to face defending champion Elk River at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Elks defeated the Huskies in last year’s semifinals.

Havelka handed the ball to junior running back Jason Williamson last week and he torched Mahtomedi for 262 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Williamson struggled early in Saturday’s game but Havelka gave notice that the Huskies have myriad ways to make defenses squirm. He hit Dalton Kubista for a 52-yard score just 1:13 into the game. They connected again early in the second quarter on an 85-yard touchdown. Kubista finished with 192 yards and three scores.

“If a team is going to try to shut down Williamson, it’s tough to cover our wide receivers in space,” said Havelka, who has 40 touchdown passes this fall.

Brainerd senior running back Charlie Geraets, who tallied 265 yards on a program-record 55 carries last week, produced another monster effort.

His 305 rushing yards – 243 coming in the second half – and two touchdowns kept Brainerd (9-3) in the game despite trailing 28-6 at halftime.

“Second half we came out with more fire and made plays,” Geraets said.

“We’ve been in a couple games like this where we’ve scored points but we’ve struggled getting off the field defensively,” Owatonna coach Jeff Williams said. “Most of the time it has been big passing plays. Tonight it was Geraets.”

His efforts weren’t enough to offset a feeble Brainerd passing game (three completions for nine yards), zero turnovers forced and Havelka’s near-record night.

“The irony is, this year we’ve been a pretty good pass defense,” Brainerd coach Ron Stolski said. “It wasn’t one of our better nights.”

First report

A week ago, Owatonna quarterback Abe Havelka played the role of delivery man, stuffing the ball into his running back’s arms and watching the show.

Gunslinger best fit Havelka’s performance in the Class 5A semifinal Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. He tossed four first-half touchdowns in a 56-28 Huskies victory against Brainerd. He finished with 451 yards and seven touchdowns and now has 40 touchdown passes this season.

The victory sends Owatonna (11-1) to the Prep Bowl to face defending champion Elk River at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Elks defeated the Huskies in last year’s semifinals.

Owatonna junior running back Jason Williamson, who torched Mahtomedi for 262 yards and seven rushing touchdowns last week, struggled to gain ground against a Brainerd defense tracking his every move. He picked up 54 yards in the first half.

On the other side, Brainerd senior running back Charlie Geraets, who tallied 265 yards and three touchdowns on a program-record 55 carries against St. Louis Park last week, labored first against the Huskies’ defensive scheme. Then, as Brainerd was forced to throw in hopes of catching up, Owatonna limited Geraets to 66 first-half yards.

Quarterback Joe Stolski, grandson of Warriors’ coach Ron Stolski, went just 1-for-9 passing in the first half.

Havelka sent notice on the first Owatonna drive that you can stop one of the Huskies’ top offensive weapons – but not both. He hit Dalton Kubista for a 52-yard score just 1:13 into the game.

The Huskies' next three drives were less dynamic. They turned it over twice on fourth down and punted once. Havelka and Kubista provided the elixir early in the second quarter on an 85-yard touchdown connection.

Brainerd (9-3) got its break on the ensuing drive. The Warriors punted and then recovered the ball after it hit an Owatonna player’s foot. They capped a 29-yard drive with a Geraets fourth-down touchdown run.

Havelka responded with two touchdown passes to close the half. He found Alex Raichle for 25 yards and Noah Budach for 12 yards. The scoring strikes came just 1:58 apart.

Williamson showed his explosiveness on a 52-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Check back later for more on the game.