The Chaska Hawks advanced their 2025 football season with a 31-12 win over the Rochester Century Panthers on Sept. 5, improving to 2-0 on the young season.
The victory came on Senior Night, following an exciting overtime win against Rochester Mayo in the season opener. Century entered the game 0-1 after falling to Tartan (Oakdale) 31-21.
Chaska took the opening kickoff and immediately established ball control with a strong rushing attack, steadily moving the chains and running down the clock. Rochester struggled to gain ground against the Hawks’ defense in their early possessions.
Jake Lalaman (Fr.) opened the scoring with a 26-yard field goal. Moments later, Justin Greathouse (So.) broke through for a 13-yard touchdown run. On the Panthers’ next possession, Leonard Sanders intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards for a score, giving Chaska a commanding 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Rochester responded midway through the second with a 1-yard touchdown run but failed on the two-point conversion. With 2:56 left in the half, Matthew Welter (Sr.) powered in from 12 yards out, sending the Hawks into the break with a 24-6 advantage.
The Panthers struck again in the fourth quarter on a 41-yard pass that set up another 1-yard touchdown run, but once again the 2-point try failed. Chaska sealed the game with 2:28 remaining when Greathouse scored his second rushing touchdown of the night, this time from eight yards out. Lalaman added the extra point, capping the 31-12 Hawks win.
The Hawks racked up more than 200 rushing yards, led by Welter with 11 carries for 87 yards. Greathouse added 75 yards on 14 carries and also led the return game with two runbacks totaling 95 yards.
Punter Elijah Houg (Jr.) contributed three punts for 97 yards. Defensively, Michael Gillette (Sr.) paced the Hawks with six solo tackles, while seven teammates recorded two tackles apiece. Sam Summer (Sr.) and Colton Wacker (Sr.) each added interceptions to the defensive effort.
“A win is always good. The team is coming together,” said Head Coach Bryan Dahl. “We’ve got a few things to work on, but we’re starting to show our capabilities. Some of our younger guys really showed us what they can do this week. I’m proud of the effort and the outcome.”
Chaska will travel to face Hastings (2-0) next week before returning home on Sept. 19 to take on Mankato East.
Northstar-South-Gold action last week saw Chanhassen defeat Burnsville 65-0, Mankato West beat Owatonna 35-7, Mankato East defeated Rochester John Marshal 48-26, Waconia beat Apple Valley 35-0, and New Prague lost to St. Francis 28-16.
