FARIBAULT — Injuries caught up to the Austin football team as they had trouble with Faribault’s rushing attack in a 56-41 loss on the road Friday.

The Falcons (1-7 overall) took advantage of a depleted Austin front line as they racked up 405 yards rushing. Faribault’s bruising back Felipe Ramirez tallied 333 yards on the ground and six TDs as he broke off a 65-yard run on just his second carry of the game.

Austin head coach Brett Vesel said the Packers (0-8 overall) simply don’t have a lot of versatility as multiple starters were out of the game Friday.

“There is no rotation. We move one guy from one position to the next position. If they’re not playing well they stay in the defense and we just move them around,” Vesel said. “The kids played hard and that’s all I can say. We had some guys in there that probably never would’ve seen the field otherwise and they played hard. It’s crazy how many guys we’ve lost to injuries.”

Austin fell behind 21-0 to start the game, but it took a 28-27 lead on the first play of the second half when Nate Conner ran back a kick-off 70 yards for a TD. Conner, who ran for 161 yards and two TDs, gave the Packers a boost with Brandon Edgar injured, but Austin struggled in the third quarter after his kickoff return.

“I thought Nate played a great game,” Vesel said. “I thought he really stepped up after not playing running back all year.”

After Conner’s score, the Packers had two turnovers in their next four possessions and the Falcons scored TDs on four straight possessions to close out the game.

Austin will likely open up the Section 1A tournament at Rochester John Marshall 7 p.m. Wednesday. Vesel is hoping the Packers will have some players back in the lineup for that contest.

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 7 14 7 13 — 41

Faribault 21 6 8 21 — 56

First quarter

(F) Felipe Ramirez 2 run (Eric Gannon kick) (3 plays, 71 yards) 7:23

(F) Ramirez 42 run (Gannon kick) (1 play, 42 yards) 6:26

(F) Winfield Hunter 19 pass from Kade Hart (Gannon kick) (2 plays, 22 yards) 4:35

(A) Jakob Crouch 5 run (Nate Conner kick) (15 plays, 66 yards) :02

Second quarter

(F) Ramirez 1 run (kick failed) (13 plays, 60 yards) 6:28

(A) Nate Conner 6 run (Conner kick) (3 plays, 83 yards) 5:06

(A) Crouch 5 run (Conner kick) (10 plays, 85 yards) :56

Third quarter

(A) Conner 70 kick return (Conner kick) (1 play, 70 yards) 11:45

(F) Ramirez 1 run (Ehlers from Hart) (11 plays, 60 yards) 4:54

Fourth quarter

(F) Ramirez 1 run (Ramirez run) (8 plays, 30 yards) 11:29

(A) Conner 4 run (Conner kick) (5 plays, 65 yards) 10:02

(F) Ramirez 4 run (kick failed) (3 plays, 64 yards 8:36

(F) Brady Combs 6 pass from Hart (Gannon kick) (15 plays, 57 yards) :58

(A) Jason Stoulil 27 pass from Crouch (kick failed) (4 plays, 68 yards) :09

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Nate Conner, 18-for-161, 2 TDs; Jakob Crouch, 20-for-103, 2 TD; Tabarie Gunsallus, 1-for-5

Passing: Crouch, 9-for-16, 127, TD, 2 INT; Conner, 1-for-1, 5

Receiving: Jany Gash, 4-for-62; Conner, 3-for-33; Jason Stoulil, 2-for-25, TD; Elijah Andersen, 1-for-7; Zach Coffey, 1-for-5

Sacks: Luke Hawkshead (1)

Interceptions: Zach Coffey (1)

Penalties: 3-for-17

FARIBAULT STATS

Rushing: 405

Passing: 70

Penalties: 7-for-60