The Austin football team showed some resolve as it opened its season with a 45-20 loss to Rochester John Marshall in Art Hass Stadium Friday.

The Packers (0-1 overall) forced five turnovers as senior Jesse Synoground picked off three passes, while forcing and recovering a fumble, but Austin’s offense had some struggles with a lot of new players in the lineup.

“We made a few rookie mistakes. I was really proud of how we tackled and how hard we played,” Austin head coach Brett Vesesl said. “I think Jesse is an outstanding football player. We’ve talked about him tackling and he’s gotten better at tackling. He helped us out a ton tonight.”

Austin kept itself in the game early on as Jakob Crouch had an 88-yard kick-off return for a touchdown to pull the Packers within 7-6 and Tate Hebrink hit Trent Brown for a six-yard TD on fourth down to make it 14-12 with 45 seconds left in the second quarter.

“We’ve got some new guys in there and they stepped up,” Vesel said. “I thought they did a pretty good job out there.”

However, the Rockets’ team speed eventually caught up to the Packers. Jordan Velez finished with 248 yards of offense and four TDs and he had a 56-yard catch to put JM up 20-12 in the second quarter. Shan Ameen added a 70-yard TD to make it 20-12 with 3:18 left in the second and the Packers had a late drive stall out deep in JM territory before halftime.

“They’ve got some quick dudes over there and I think if we play it a little bit better, we’re fine,” Vesel said.

Austin kept itself in the game again in the second half when Synoground forced a fumble and recovered it on JM’s first possession of the second half and Tabarie Gunsallus capped off a 54-yard drive with a 17-yard TD run to make it a 28-20 game with 8:38 left in the third quarter.

The Packers will play at Winona (1-0 overall) 7 p.m. Sept. 9.

SCORING SUMMARY

JM 14 14 7 10 — 45

Austin 12 0 8 0 — 20

First quarter

(JM) Jordan Velez 1 run (Eric Byrne kick) (2 plays, 4 yards) 7:50

(A) Jakob Crouch 88 kick return (kick failed) (1 play, 88 yards) 7:39

(JM) Velez 53 run (Byrne kick) (3 plays, 70 yards) 6:14

(A) Trent Brown 6 pass from Tate Hebrink (run failed) (8 plays, 24 yards) :45

Second quarter

(JM) Velez 56 pass from Caleb Gronholz (kick failed) (2 plays, 66 yards) 8:02

(JM) Shahan Ameen 70 run (Ameen run) (1 play, 84 yards) 3:18

Third quarter

(A) Tabarie Gunsallus 17 run (Crouch from Hebrink) (5 plays, 54 yards) 8:38

(JM) Velez 1 run (Byrne kick) (5 plays, 54 yards) 6:36

Fourth quarter

(JM) Byrne 38 field goal (6 plays, 20 yards) 2:45

(JM) Ameen 25 run (Byrne kick) (1 play, 25 yards) 2:19

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Tabarie Gunsallus, 25-for-71, TD; Tate Hebrink, 8-for-43; Sam Hagan, 4-for-3; Jakob Crouch, 1-for-(-7)

Passing: Hebrink, 11-for-26, 88, TD, INT

Receiving: Tyler Tupy, 5-for-29; Trent Brown, 2-for-23, TD; Jany Gash, 2-for-20; Gunsallus, 2-for-2

Interceptions: Jesse Synground (3)

Fumble recoveries: Synoground (1); Luke Hawkshead (1)

Turnovers: 3

Penalties: 4-for-40

JM STATS

Rushing: 374

Passing: 114

Penalties: 16-for-123