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From 5-5 in 2022, to 8-3 in 2023, to 8-0 so far in 2024, Owatonna has climbed back to its usual position atop of the Section 1-AAAAA ladder and wedged itself squarely into the elite group of legitimate Class AAAAA state championship contenders. If this Husky team plans on reaching their ultimate goal and capturing the program’s fourth state title in 11 years, it will be on the shoulders of an experienced, fast and ultra-athletic defense. Though it hasn’t pitched a shutout quite yet, Owatonna has allowed seven or fewer points in six games and are one of just two teams in all of Class AAAAA that have allowed fewer than 10 points per game. Offensively, it all comes down to finding consistency through the air and limiting turnovers.

STATUS: Favorite

OVERALL RECORD: 8-0

SECTION RECORD: 4-0

QRF RANK: No. 3

LAST 4 GAMES: 4-0

STREAK: Won 8

OFFENSE: 33.2 PPG

DEFENSE: 9.6 PPG

NOTABLE RESULTS: W, 21-7 over Chanhassen (5-3); W, 28-14 over Mankato West (5-3); W, 32-22 over Rochester John Marshall (6-2)

HEAD COACH: Jeff Williams (29th season)

MATHUP: vs. No. 4 New Prague (3-6), Saturday, Oct. 26, Federated Field, 7 p.m.

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John Marshall lacks a marquee win of any degree, but has hung tough with every opponent on their schedule, losing only to a pair of teams in Owatonna and Mankato East that enter the postseason with a combined 14-2 overall record. Bottom line, the Rockets boast more than enough athleticism at the skill positions and size up front to win a section title, but their fate will likely come down a to how, or if, they can remain composed against powerful Owatonna in a hostile environment.

STATUS: Contender

OVERALL RECORD: 6-2

SECTION RECORD: 3-1

QRF RANK: No. 16

LAST 4 GAMES: 3-1

STREAK: Won 1

OFFENSE: 33.4 PPG

DEFENSE: 19.4 PPG

NOTABLE RESULTS: L, 35-28 to Mankato East (6-2); L, 32-22 to Owatonna (8-0); L, 19-16 over Northfield (5-3)

HEAD COACH: Kyle Riggot (3rd season)

MATHUP: vs. No. 3 Northfield (3-5), Saturday, Oct. 26, John Drews Field, 7 p.m.

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With graduation depleting the Raiders of their two biggest playmakers and essentially their entire offensive line from a year ago, it has been an uphill climb for the reigning section runner-up — particularly on offense. Northfield has scored no more than 23 points in any single game and posted exactly one touchdown in five different outings. The Raiders did trail by just one touchdown in the middle of the fourth quarter against the second-seeded Rockets and ostensibly clinched the third seed by beating New Prague, 13-7, in Week 6. More recently, though, Northfield has found itself requiring a fourth quarter comeback just to sneak past winless Rochester Century in Week 7 and trailing from start-to-finish in a 20-12 setback to struggling Tartan in Week 8.

STATUS: Long-shot

OVERALL RECORD: 3-5

SECTION RECORD: 2-2

QRF RANK: No. 30

LAST 4 GAMES: 2-2

STREAK: Lost 1

OFFENSE: 11.9 PPG

DEFENSE: 24.4 PPG

NOTABLE RESULTS: L, 31-6 over Mankato West (5-3); L, 28-6 over John Marshall (6-2); L, 39-6 at Owatonna (8-0); W, 13-7 at New Prague (2-6)

HEAD COACH: Brent Yule (3rd season)

MATHUP: at No. 2 John Marshall(6-2), Saturday, Oct. 26, John Drews Field, 7 p.m.

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If there is a team that could conceivably emerge from this section and make an unexpected run to the state tournament, it is New Prague. The Trojans — who took care of business in the section opener by defeating Rochester Century, 14-7, on Tuesday night — not only held No. 1 Owatonna to a season-low 19 points in Week 3, but nearly took down second-seeded Rochester John Marshall before allowing a late fourth quarter touchdown in a 19-16 loss in Week 6. When operating at maximum efficiency, New Prague’s hard-nosed, run-dominant offensive style is the perfect recipe to steal an upset, or two.

STATUS: Darkhorse

OVERALL RECORD: 3-6

SECTION RECORD: 2-3 (counting playoffs)

QRF RANK: No. 37

LAST 4 GAMES: 2-2

STREAK: Won 2

OFFENSE: 15.0 PPG

DEFENSE: 20.6 PPG

NOTABLE RESULTS: L, 31-6 to Chaska (4-4); L, 19-7 to Owatonna (8-0); L, 19-16 to John Marshall (6-2). L, 38-7 at Waconia (4-4)

HEAD COACH: Jake Norby (7th season)

MATHUP: vs. No. 5 Century (0-8), Tuesday, Oct. 22, Trojan Stadium, 7 p.m.

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The pinnacle of Century’s success in the late mid-to-late 2000s seems like a distant memory at this point. Officially falling to third (of three) within the Rochester public school football pecking order, the Panthers have gone two straight seasons without beating a sectional opponent and have posted a collective 1-17 record in the stretch. The program was dealt a major blow before the season even started when its two best athletes — Markes and Dernard Simpson — elected to transfer to cross-town rival, Rochester John Marshall, and things only got worse once the games began. The Panthers did hang tough with No. 3 Northfield in Week 7, so there is that.

STATUS: Longest of long shots

OVERALL RECORD: 0-9

SECTION RECORD: 0-5

QRF RANK: No. 44

LAST 4 GAMES: 0-4

STREAK: Lost 8

OFFENSE: 7.4 PPG

DEFENSE: 38.6 PPG

NOTABLE RESULTS: L, 34-0 at Waconia(4-4); L, 63-0 at Chanhassen (5-3); L, 42-7 to Owatonna (8-0)

HEAD COACH: Jon Vix (19th season)

MATHUP: at No. 4 New Prague (2-6), Tuesday, Oct. 22, Trojan Stadium, 7 p.m.

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CLASS AAAAA BRACKETS