13 Huskies nab All-District honors

The Owatonna Huskies football program has been on a seven game winning streak that hasn’t just seen the Huskies be crown champions in both the district and the section, but have them one game away from the Class 5A championship game.
A big reason for the Huskies success this season is the abundance of young talent that floods the roster.
13 Huskies were honored Wednesday, receiving All-District nods and head coach Jeff Williams was named Coach of the Year. Seven players were named for the first-Team, while six were named honorable mention.
Talented sophomore running back Jason Williamson headlines the seven first team nods, being selected as the Red Division Offensive Player of the Year. The sophomore has been the workhorse for the Huskies this year, rushing for 1,584 yards on 284 carries and 16 touchdowns. He also is a safety on defense, breaking up five passes and hauling in two interceptions. Another offensive weapon that received first team nods honors was Huskies’ leading receiver Noah Budach. The junior has 39 receptions for 399 yards, 4 touchdowns to go with two carries for 31 yard and a touchdown.
The remaining trio of the defensive secondary also was recognized. Cornerbacks Alex Raichle and Jaden Dohaniuk along with safety Brett Solie were named to the All-District team. Solie and Raichle were named first-team. 
Raichle, who also stars as a punt returner and a wide receiver, has tallied 36 tackles, four interceptions, four pass breakups and a blocked kick defensively. He has 20 receptions for 448 yards and a team-high nine receiving touchdowns. Owatonna’s other cornerback, Dohaniuk has been solid all season, recording 36 tackles, one interception and 6 pass breakups. Solie, a senior and captain, has 60 tackles, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups to match his hard nose, sledgehammer hitting style. However, offensively he has been a big-play machine. He has two receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Linebacker Ben Staska, who is also a captain, currently has 94 tackles on the year, 46 of those solo, four fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks and three pass breakups from his middle linebacker position. Joining Staska is junior linebacker Mitch Weise, who has 53 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks on the year was named honorable mention. He is also a fullback on the offense; recording 22 carries for 116 yards on the year. He also had a pivotal touchdown reception against Apple Valley in the state quarterfinals last week. 
The third member of the linebacker corps to receive honors, junior Zach Mensink has had a strong season so far, garnering a honorable mention nod. He has tallied 72 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He also has been receiving more carries on the offensive side of the ball to help keep Williamson fresh, rushing for his first touchdown of the season against Austin in the Section semifinals. Goy Tut, a senior defensive lineman, was selected for the first-team All-District team. The massive senior has 45 tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery for the Huskies’ defense this season.
Nate Deason, Kadyn Mulert, and Senior offensive lineman Josh Burns, three of the mainstays on the offensive line, have helped clear holes for Owatonna running backs, registering nearly 2,400 yards on the ground while also providing enough team for quarterbacks Abe Havelka and Jacob Gauthier to throw for just over 1,550 yards. Deason was named Fto the first team while Burns and Mulert received a nod as honorable mention.
After taking over week four, quarterback Abe Havelka has been electric, but more importantly efficient for Owatonna this season. So far of the year, the junior is 77 for 146 for 1,203 yards and 16 touchdowns on his way to a honorable mention honor. 
Havelka looks to guide the Huskies to thier first Class 5A state championship game since 2013 Friday, when they travel up to U.S. Bank Stadium to face top-ranked Elk River.