Orono high school News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/orono-high-school/ Minnesota sports, but different Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:07:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Orono high school News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/orono-high-school/ 32 32 Absolutely Insane Catch Helps Orono Advance to MN State Championship https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-high-school-sports/mn-state-tournament-football-crazy-orono-touchdown-catch/ Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:07:06 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=71823 The Minnesota Vikings are playing at home on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, in a game they pretty much have to win if they want to have any legitimate chance at making the NFL Playoffs.

But this week, to warm up the turf at U.S. Bank Stadium for the professionals, the best high school teams across the state of Minnesota are playing semifinal round 2025 MSHSL State Tournament games in downtown Minneapolis.

And on Thursday, a low-scoring 4A defensive back-and-forth between Orono and Marshall produced one of the most ridiculous touchdown catches I have ever seen in my 36 years of watching football.

Orono scores Prep Bowl touchdown on insane catch

It came in the second quarter, with the contest tied 0-0. That’s when Orono QB Griffin Mauer took a snap from under-center at the Marshall 30 yard line, faked a stretch handoff left to his running back before rolling out to his right and throwing a 40-yard deep shot on the run, as he took a hit from Tigers defensive end Brody Riess.

Striding down the field under the ball near the goal line (in double coverage) was Mauer’s favorite target on the season, Bennett Halverson, who proceeded to make an absurd tip-drill catch that is sure to land at the top of SportsCenter Top 10 at some point in the next few days, if not tonight.

Not only was this an amazing grab, but it proved to be a very important one. This touchdown put Orono up 7-0 and it would up being the Spartans’ only regulation score on the day.

In the third quarter, Marshall scored their only touchdown of the game, making it 7-7, where this state semifinal showdown remained through the final fourth quarter whistle. Had Halverson not made his incredible catch, Orono loses this game.

Orono vs Marshall brings OT fireworks, another great grab

But that’s not how reality played out between the Tigers and Spartans on thursday. Marshall got the first score of OT, a touchdown that they followed up with an extra point, putting the pressure on Orono to match.

And they did, scoring a TD of their own to make the game 13-14. Instead of kicking an extra point to tie and force a second overtime, however, the Spartans went for two and the win, after a penalty moved the football all the way back to the 18-yard line.

Sometimes, destiny talks in different ways. Because on the next play, depth wide receiver Lincoln Stinar made Orono’s second incredible point-scoring reception on the day for Orono.

It came on a sideline endzone fade that was perfectly executed and one that put the Spartans over the Tigers for good, 15-14, to advance to the Prep Championship. Coming into the State Tourney, Stinar had recorded a total of 6 receptions for 111 yards on the season.

]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:07:09 +0000 Minnesota High School Sports Orono Hits 2OT Half-Court Buzzer Beater to Win MN 6AAA Section Championship https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/uncategorized/orono-2ot-half-court-buzzer-beater-mn-6aaa-section-championship/ Fri, 15 Mar 2024 03:06:23 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=48820 One of the best things about sports is the unpredictability. Most of the time, whether it’s a random 6th grade “B” squad game, a Varsity state championship or a Super Bowl, the formula is the same. A contest takes place and said contest determines a winner and a loser. Then, everyone moves on with their lives

Sure, some scores are closer than others, just like some games are more exciting than others. The game itself, though, gets lost to history. Even those who play in it will likely forget about it.

But, any time that ball tips, puck drops or first pitch is thrown, something magical could happen. The kind of moment where everyone involved isn’t the same afterward. And these life-changing moments can happen anywhere, anytime and at any event.

Call me hyperbolic but it’s true. Hitting a game-winning shot, a walk-off homerun or scoring an overtime goal… those are life-changing moments for all involved. No matter the sport or level of play, we’re talking about events that most athletes remember forever.

Orono hits half-court 2OT buzzer-beater to win section 6AAA championship

And we had one of those moments on Thursday night in a double overtime section 6AAA championship matchup between Orono and Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the Minnesota class 6AAA boys section championship game.

It started with a BSM missed free throw that would have put them up by two points (so it didn’t really matter). What mattered was the rebound, which was claimed by Orono, following a short scrap on the floor. They outletted the ball down down 84-83 with the final seconds about to tick off the clock… and then, it happened.

Orono didn’t have a magical regular season, by any stretch, finishing 19-10. But sometimes, it’s not about how much magic, but when the magic happens. And Orono saved their magic for the perfect time. And now, they’re heading to the state tournament. Here is how the game got to OT, then 2OT in the first place… including a premature BSM court-storm.

Related: Future Gopher Isaac Asuma Nearly Posts Triple-Double in Star-Studded ‘Border Battle’ Showcase

]]> Tue, 16 Apr 2024 03:17:22 +0000 Uncategorized