Football: Packers downed by Falcons
Published 11:59 pm Friday, September 19, 2014
Austin’s Connor Sheehan returns a kick against Faribault in the first quarter Friday night in Faribault. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
FARIBAULT — The Austin football team struggled from the opening snap and it never got on track as it lost 48-20 at Faribault Friday night.
The Falcons (2-2 overall, 2-2 Big Nine) had their way on the ground for the entire first half as they scored on six of their first seven possessions to take a commanding 35-0 lead at the break. Faribault racked up 264 yards rushing in the first half as Austin’s offense was stopped on fourth down twice in the first half.
Austin’s Jayden Erie wraps up Faribault running back Joe Hoisington during the second quarter Friday night in Faribault. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It was the worst performance I’ve seen since I’ve been here. Unbelievable. I don’t know what went wrong,” Austin head Brett Vesel said. “We just self destructed. It was an ugly sight to see in the first half. We regrouped in the second half and we didn’t make stupid mistakes anymore.”
Austin’s offense didn’t find its rhythm until the fourth quarter when Faribault pulled its starters. The Packers (1-3 overall, 1-3 Big Nine) scored three TDs in the final frame to make the final score a little closer.
Austin had a couple of chances near mid-field early on but both drives stalled out when the Packers couldn’t convert fourth downs on running plays.
“There were several plays where we had dumb penalties and we had a fourth and short where the center snapped on the wrong count,” Vesel said. “We hadn’t done that stuff until this week and we can’t be doing that stuff.”
The game was called with 1:23 left due to lightning after a Nate Conner.
SCORING SUMMARY
Austin 0 0 0 20 — 20
Faribault 21 14 14 0 — 48
First quarter
(F) Mitch Nagel 40 run (Andy Swanson kick) (3 plays, 56 yards) 10:50
Austin’s Brandon Edgar finds open room on a run in the first quarter against Faribault Friday night in Faribault. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
(F) Joe Hoisington 6 run (Swanson kick) (8 plays, 51 yards) 6:28
(F) Hoisington 7 run (Swanson kick) (11 plays, 58 yards) :18
Second quarter
(F) Hoisington 2 run (Swanson kick) (10 plays, 44 yards) 6:37
(F) Tyler Becker 47 run (Swanson kick) (1 play, 52 yards) 2:09
Third quarter
(F) Hoisington 24 run (kick failed) (4 plays, 51 yards) 8:17
(F) Joe Miller 25 run (Swanson kick) (6 plays, 40 yards) 3:02
Fourth quarter
(A) Jason Stoulil (Riley Grinstead kick) (8 plays, 80 yards) 11:55
(A) Brandon Edgar 7 run (Grinstead kick) (9 plays, 68 yards) 5:20
(A) Nate Conner 3 run (no kick) (3 plays, 32 yards) 1:23
AUSTIN STATS
Rushing: Brandon Edgar, 23-for-139, TD; Nate Conner, 20-for-92, TD; passing: Conner, 6-for-13, 69, TD; Elijah Anderson, 1-for-1, 6; receiving: Garet Ruroden, 2-for-24; Elijah Anderson, 2-for-19; Jason Stoulil, 1-for-19, TD; Edgar, 1-for-9; Conner, 1-for-6; penalties: 7-for-40
Austin’s Nick Baier closes on Faribault running back Joe Hoisington during the first half Friday night in Faribault. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
FARIBAULT STATS
Rushing: 307; passing: 39; penalties: 11-for-105
