The Austin defense held the Big Nine Conference's leading rusher 105 yards below his average, but an occasional outburst from Owatonna's passing game gave the Huskies the means to a 14-0 victory Friday night at Wescott Field in Austin.

Tyson Bramer entered the game with a 148-yard average for Owatonna, but the pesky Packers put up a wall against the league's top offense. The Huskies responded by throwing over that wall for 101 yards and the eventual victory.

The loss dropped Austin to 0-4 for the first time in as long as Packer coach Steve Knox could remeber.

"If there is frustration that sets in, it's to work so hard and not get a victory," Knox said. "But they're not done. They'll be back Monday to work harder than they have worked."

The Packers had a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tucker Schieck to Nate Johnson called off on a holding penalty late in the first half, and Austin's first of three trips into the red zone eventually came up empty. At nine points per game, AHS is the second-lowest scoring team in the Big Nine.

"We've just gotta get in the end zone," said Austin senior tailback Ray Bissen. "We've got to give our fans something."

Austin managed just 170 yards of total offense against Owatonna's 265. Both teams committed two turnovers.

"We stopped their run with the guys we had up front, that was crucial," said Owatonna coach Jeff Williams. "That allowed us to keep our safeties in coverage, because Schieck throws a nice ball."

Schieck took every snap as quarterback for the Pack, finishing 4-of-17 for 52 yards and two interceptions, including Mike McManimon's pick with under two minutes remaining in the game. Bissen caught McManimon from behind after a 56-yard return, and Owatonna (2-2) ran the clock out on a 14-0 lead.

"I didn't want to see it 21 to nothing, 14 was bad enough," Bissen said.

A pair of lengthy pass completions from Bryan Bauck to Nate Skala set up both Owatonna touchdowns.

"We don't want to lead the Big Nine in passing, we just wanted to keep the secondary honest so we can run the ball," Williams said.

Bramer scored on a 1-yard touchdown blast in the second quarter, set up on the drive by a 37-yard pass from Bauck to Skala.

Austin's touchdown pass from Schieck to Johnson was tipped at the goalline by an Owatonna defender, but the play was waived off on a penalty. The Huskies ran the clock out on the first half and came back with a scoring drive to start the second.

"That hurt us, we needed that touchdown right there," Coach Knox said.

On the opening possession of the next half, Skala got behind Austin's safeties on third-and-16 for a 47-yard touchdown reception. The Packers came up empty on a pair of drives that reached inside the Huskies' 20-yard-line in the final quarter.

"We've blown 21- and 14-point leads earlier in the year, I was so proud of how our defense bore down and stopped them twice in the red zone," Williams said. "We didn't make those same mistakes."

Austin did force a pair of turnovers, with Derek Hall pouncing on a fumble by Brian Simon late in the third quarter. The Packers tried to give it back two plays later on Mark Cavanaugh's 23-yard reception, but offensive lineman Owen Stevenson continued to block downfield and was in position to protect Austin's possession.

The drive eventually stalled out as Cavanaugh was stuffed at the Owatonna 11 on a fourth-and-2 run over the right side.

"Offensively we moved the ball tonight, the key word for our offense right now is 'finish'," Knox said.

Cavanaugh led the Packers with 98 yards from scrimmage, including three catches for 39 yards.

"This team is not going to quit on us," Knox said. "If they quit on us right now they're not going to have a chance to finish the season. The second half of the season starts for us, so now we turn it up a notch."

The Packers play host to Winona on Parents' Night Friday at Wescott Field. Both teams are winless so far this season.

"We've just got to come back and work hard for another week," said AHS senior Matt Ball.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :sports@austindailyherald.com.

Summary:

Score by quarters

Owatonna0770--14

Austin0000--0

Scoring summary

O -- Tyson Bramer 1 run (Phil Lesniak kick good)

O -- Nate Skala 24 pass from Bryan Bauck (Lesniak kick)

Team stats

OwaAus

First downs1111

Rushing97

Passing23

Penalty01

Rushing

Attempts3639

Yards164118

Passing

Completions54

Attempts1317

Yards10152

Interceptions12

Total yards265170

Punting3-306-32.5

Fumbles-lost1-11-0

Penalties-yards9-867-71

Individual leaders

RUSHING -- O: Andrew Olson 6-47, Brian Simon 13-46, Tyson Bramer 14-43, Jesse Seykora 1-18, Bryan Bauck 2-10; A: Mark Cavanaugh 19-59, Ray Bissen 10-30, Mike Gravelle 7-19, Billy Anderson 1-4, Jesse Krueger 1-4, Tucker Schieck 1-2.

PASSING -- O: Bauck 5-13-1-101; A: 4-17-2-52.

RECEIVING -- O: Nate Skala 2-82, Seykora 1-10, Olson 2-9; A: Cavanaugh 3-39, Bissen 1-13.