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Sports

Football Playoff Preview: Owatonna vs. Lakeville North

Panthers look to earn trip to Metrodome by beating Huskies in Friday's section final.

Owatonna (9-1, 7-1 Big Nine Conference) vs. (9-0, 7-0 South Suburban Conference)

PLAYMAKERS

  • David Kraus (Owatonna – running back)

Used sparingly during the regular season, David had a combined 57 carries for 285 yards and touchdown in playoff wins over Farmington and Rochester John Marshall.

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  •  Luke Wanous (Owatonna – running back)

Luke had 18 carries for 99 yards last week against Rochester John Marshall and 12 carries for 58 yards the game before against Farmington.

  • Trey Heid (Lakeville North – quarterback)

Trey ran for a team-best 101 yards in last week’s win over Lakeville South, including a 50-yarder to set up a score, and was 10-of-18 for 134 yards and a touchdown through the air. He added three field goals for good measure. "It was another great night for Trey," said coach Brian Vossen.

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  • Brandon Morgan (Lakeville North -- running back)

Brandon had 18 carries for 85 yards in last week’s semifinal win over Lakeville South. He’ll likely see a lot of caries again this week to help open things up for Heid.”Since the Prior Lake game (at the end of the regular season), he’s ran really hard after some coaches lit a fire under him,” Vossen said.

HUSKIES WIN IF...

Kraus, Wanous and the Owatonna offense can have numerous time-consuming drives that end with points on the board because the Panthers have a number of weapons that can score quickly. The Huskies defense, which has shut out two straight weaker opponents, will need to keep the Panthers running game in check and keep scrambling Trey Heid between the tackles.

PANTHERS WIN IF...

They do what they’ve been doing. “Everything is clicking now,” said coach Brain Vossen. The Panthers speed is something that Owatonna hasn’t seen against Big Nine Conference foes and has likely had a hard time simulating in practice. If Lakeville North can stop the Huskies running backs, it should create some opportunities for the defense to get some interceptions against a team that doesn’t throw the ball that well. Vossen said extra motivation for the team this week is that a win gets them to the Metrodome, where they would meet Cretin Derham-Hall or Eagan in the state quarterfinals.

2-MINUTE DRILL

SITE: Lakeville North High School

TIME: 7 p.m. Friday

WEATHER: Clear, 48 degrees

LAST MEETING: Lakeville North won 28-18 at Owatonna in the 2009 playoffs.

 

OWATONNA SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 @ Chanhassen                  W 36-21

Fri. Sept. 9     @ Albert Lea                    W 49-6

Fri. Sept. 16   vs. Rochester JM              W 34-6

Fri. Sept. 23   @ Rochester Century        W 28-7

Fri. Sept. 30   vs. Faribault                     W 54-0

Fri. Oct. 7       @ Winona                        W 42-0

Fri. Oct. 14     vs. Austin                        W 45-0

Wed. Oct. 19 @ Rochester Mayo              L 22-21

Tues. Oct. 25 vs. Farmington                  W 21-0

Sat. Oct. 29    vs. Rochester JM               W 35-0

Fri. Nov. 4      @ Lakeville North

 

LAKEVILLE NORTH SCHEDULE

Thur. Sept. 1 vs. Eastview                        

Fri. Sept. 9     @ Apple Valley                   W 45-19

Fri. Sept. 16   vs. Edina                            

Fri. Sept. 23   @ Rosemount                     

Fri. Sept. 30   vs. Burnsville                      

Fri. Oct. 7       vs. Lakeville South             

Fri. Oct. 14     @ Bloomington Kennedy  W 35-7

Wed. Oct. 19 @ Prior Lake                        W 21-3

Tues. Oct. 25 First Round Bye

Sat. Oct. 29    vs. Lakeville South             

Fri. Nov. 4      vs. Owatonna

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