The Austin football team is riding on a high after winning two straight games, but it’ll face a one last test before it starts to prepare for the postseason. The Packers (3-4 overall, 3-4 Big Nine) will try to finish .500 for the second straight season as they play at Mankato East (3-4 overall, 3-4 Big Nine) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Austin has a short week to prepare for the Cougars and the team has a long road trip ahead of it, but Austin head coach Brett Vesel isn’t worried about that and he’s hoping the Packers can win to go 4-4 for the second straight year.

“The short week, I think will increase our intensity and focus,” Vesel said. “Especially since we can equal our regular season record of last year, which was [Austin’s] best record since 2004. To put back to back seasons together like this would be an awesome accomplishment especially because we graduated so many stellar players from last year’s team.”

The Cougars have won two games in a row and they’ve taken three of their last four contests. East beat Albert Lea 59-14 last week and it edged Winona 14-2 two weeks ago. The Packers are coming off a 20-14 win over the Winhawks. East racked up 511 yards of offense against AL and it showed balance as Nick Seiler threw for 174 yards on eight attempts and the Cougars ran for more than 300 yards in the win.

“We are expecting to see a very good defensive team with multiple fronts and an explosive offensive team with some very good linemen and skill players on both sides of the ball,” Vesel said of the Cougars.

The Packers will likely continue to use their ground game to get the offense going as Brandon Edgar is on the verge of 1,000 yards rushing and Nate Conner, who ran for 195 yards last week, has been a solid ground option as well.