Underdog Huskies Stun the Top-Ranked Rivals in Overtime

Kicker Owen Fletcher had never tried a 42-yard field goal in a game. His longest make in three varsity seasons was 37 yards, and most of his work came on extra points and kickoffs. On Friday night, with the conference title on the line and a packed home crowd holding its breath, he made it. The kick split the uprights with room to spare, and within seconds the field was covered in students, parents and players who had waited a long time for a night like this.

The Huskies beat the top-ranked Rams 27–24 in overtime in front of a packed home crowd, ending a 14-year title drought. It was the first conference championship for the program since many of its current players were in preschool, and it came against a Rams team that entered the night unbeaten and ranked first in the state.

An underdog all season

Few people outside the Huskies’ locker room expected them to be playing for a title in November. They finished 4–6 last season and lost 11 seniors to graduation. Preseason polls picked them to finish fifth in the conference. Their roster includes only a handful of players who are being recruited by college programs.