FARIBAULT -- The Packers didn't make any excuses for the plays that decided the game, simply because there weren't any.

The Austin High School football team opened the season on the road Friday night in Faribault, literally dropping a 19-14 decision to the host Falcons.

The Packers lost three fumbles, including two within five yards of the end zone, in the Big Nine Conference season-opener for both teams. Austin's offense outgained Faribault 303-178, but three turnovers at critical moments made the yardage moot.

"Our defense really turned it on in that second half and gave the offense a chance, I just couldn't hold onto the ball," said Austin junior quarterback Mark Cavanaugh. "You've got to take that on yourself,

no excuses."

Cavanaugh fumbled on three consecutive plays from scrimmage in a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter. The Packers drove 55 yards to the Faribault 5-yard-line on the opening possession of the period, but a second-and-goal option right resulted in the last of three Austin turnovers.

A Falcon defender snuck through the line and put his helmet on the ball, popping it loose from Cavanaugh. Faribault defensive lineman Peter LeVake fell on the fumble to preserve his team's 19-14 lead.

After forcing a Faribault punt, Austin got the ball back shy of midfield with 4:31 left to overcome a five-point deficit.

Cavanaugh lost control of the ball on back-to-back snaps, but both times Austin offensive linemen pulled the pigskin out of the air to maintain possession. Tony Weis and Owen Stevenson kept Austin's hopes alive for a little longer, but a pair of hail-mary attempts in the waning moments went incomplete.

"You've got to capitalize when you can, we obviously just had some mistakes," said AHS senior running back Ray Bissen. "It was close, but we should have got (the win)."

Bissen rushed 13 times for a game-high 79 yards, leading the Big Red running attack that totalled 242 of Austin's 303 yards. Senior fullback Mike Gravelle rumbled for 67 of his 75 yards in the first half, including a 52-yard touchdown run that gave the Packers an 8-7 lead late in the first quarter.

"We just made some key mistakes when we were marching the ball," said Austin head coach Steve Knox. "They got some key turnovers when they needed them."

Disaster dodged

Austin averted a complete loss on their first turnover, converting Gravelle's goal-line fumble into two points with a safety on Faribault's ensuing play from scrimmage. Falcon quarterback Ryan Cross was stopped by a trio of AHS defenders to get the Packers on the scoreboard, 7-2.

Two plays after Faribault's free-kick, Gravelle scampered through a wide-open hole created by the line and traveled 52 yards to paydirt. Chris Stackenwalt's extra-point kick glanced off the left post, but Austin still led 8-7 with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.

Faribault answered with their backs against the wall, hitting a deep post route from Cross to Nick Rost that went 53 yards for a touchdown facing third-and-13. Ethan Simonson blocked Nick Hruska's extra-point kick to keep the score 13-8.

Austin came up with their own offensive fireworks as Cavanaugh hit James Dammen on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 3:43 left in the first half. Bissen's two-point conversion run failed, and Austin led 14-13 heading into the lockerroom.

Winning the war

Faribault won the battle for field position early in the third quarter and cashed in with what for the game's first 16 minutes was an ineffective running game. The Falcons found a seam in the middle of the Austin defense and exploited it for 46 yards of a 52-yard drive that resulted in fullback Tony Sunde's second touchdown. Sunde gained 30 of his team-high 49 yards rushing during the scoring drive.

"I didn't think we played to our potential, not even close," said Austin senior linebacker and co-captain Billy Anderson. "They had some good blocking, they did a good job of eliminating the linebackers. They were pushing us outward, we just didn't play the way we're capable."

Faribault only gained 24 yards rushing and 86 total in the first half, 53 of which came on Rost's touchdown reception. Sunde rushed for 48 of Faribault's 92 second-half yards, setting the tone of ball-control and time management.

"As coaches we're very pleased with the performance," Knox said. "We're a little frustrated for the kids that they lost this game.

"It's encouraging when you know it's things that can be corrected."

First step

Bissen's first varsity start in the backfield was a lucrative one. He averaged over six yards per carry while leading an Austin offense that did not stall until the game's final drive.

"This was my first start and I had a great time with it," Bissen said. "As a team, we can see how much we can be as a unit. We jelled a lot better tonight.

"Now we can only improve."

Austin may have a tough time of it, playing three of last year's top four Big Nine teams in consecutive weeks. The Packers host Rochester Mayo Friday night at 7 p.m. at Wescott Field in Austin.

"Overall I thought the kids played a good game," Coach Knox said. "I felt good about the linemen and I felt the running backs did a good job of finding the holes.

"This is a hard-working group. We'll have to work even harder next week."

Summary:

Scoring

Austin8600--14

Faribault7660--19

FAR – Sunde 1 run (Hruska kick)

AUS – Safety, Cross tackled in end zone

AUS – Gravelle 52 run (kick failed)

FAR – Rost 53 pass from Cross (kick blocked)

AUS – Dammen 43 pass from Cavanaugh (run failed)

FAR – Sunde 4 run (pass failed)

Individual

RUSHING – AUS: Bissen 13-79, Gravelle 9-75, Cavanaugh 11-38, Stackenwalt 4-28, Dammen 4-19, Krueger 2-3; FAR: Sunde 10-49, Rost 11-44, Ressler 7-30, Hruska 1-1, Cross 7-(-27).

PASSING – AUS: Cavanaugh 4-12-0-61, Schieck 0-2-0-0; FAR – Cross 4-11-0-81.

RECEIVING – AUS: Dammen 1-41, Gravelle 1-10, Bastyr 1-6, Johnson 1-4; FAR – Rost 2-62, Smith 2-19.