Owatonna quarterback puts on show with seven touchdown passes against Brainerd

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 over Brainerd in Saturday night's Class 5A football state semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium, completing 21 of 25 passes.

The victory sends Owatonna (11-1) to the Prep Bowl to face defending champion Elk River on Saturday. The Elks beat the Huskies in last year's semifinals.

Havelka handed the ball to junior running back Jason Williamson last week, and Williamson 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 only 73 seconds in. 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.

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

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

However, Geraets' efforts weren't enough to offset a feeble Brainerd passing game (three completions for 9 yards), zero turnovers forced and Havelka's near-record night.