FARIBAULT — The Packers’ offense started on the wrong foot and it never got going in a 36-7 loss at Faribault Friday.

Austin (0-3 overall, 0-2 Big Nine) committed eight turnovers and it amassed just 123 yards of offense.

“The first finger’s got to be on me,” Austin head coach Matt Schmit said. “We took a step back and that’s coaching. I’m the head coach and it’s my fault. When it goes as bad as this, it’s never one thing. There’s a whole lot of moving pieces out there and we’ll have to look at film. We’re going to have to do things differently.”

Faribault’s Connor Wierschem opened the game with an 84-yard kickoff return for a score and Faribault’s Tanner Tousignant picked off a Sean Coffey pass on Austin’s first play of the game.

The Falcons (3-0 overall, 2-0 Big Nine) went on to produce a 10 play, 51 yard scoring drive that was capped by a four-yard touchdown run by Jake Sabala on a quarterback bootleg on fourth and four. Sabala added a 29 yard TD run to the outside and a 93-yard TD run on a bootleg in the second quarter as the Falcons led 30-7 at the half.

“Big plays hurt us, but defensively I thought they played pretty well minus three plays,” Schmit said. “Offensively we didn’t put drives together and (the defense was) out there way too long.”

Austin scored its only touchdown when Gabe Gerstner recovered a high snap on a Faribault punt in the end zone to make it a 22-7 game.

The Packers had two chances to pull within one score, but Coffey fumbled on first down at the Faribault 47-yard line and Coffey threw an interception on a fade route to Zach Wessels at the Falcon six-yard line on first down.

The second interception was preceded by a 52-yard gain on a screen pass to Will Davenport — the only play of more than 20 yards on the night for Austin.

Schmit said the Packers will have to make some changes on offense before their homecoming game against Mankato East (0-3 overall, 0-2 Big Nine) at Art Hass Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.

“It’s back to the basics,” Schmit said. “We’ll go back to the simple things. Every week we keep taking things out and keep simplifying.”

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 0 7 0 0 — 7

Faribault 22 8 6 0 — 36

First quarter

(F) Connor Wierschem 84 kick return (pass failed) (1 play, 84 yards) 11:48

(F) Jake Sabala 4 run (Sabala pass) (10 plays, 51 yards) 7:36

(F) Sabala 29 run (Sabala pass to Aric Hallett) (5 plays, 45 yards) 4:12

Second quarter

(A) Gabe Gerstner 0 fumble recovery (Zach Wessels kick) 10:41

(F) Sabala 93 run (Sabala to Tanner Tousignant) (2 plays, 94 yards) 6:33

Third quarter

(F) Brett Grossman 11 run (pass failed) (5 plays, 37 yards) 9:55

Fourth quarter

No scoring

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Will Davenport, 14-for-30; Andrew Allen, 2-for-8; Cory Hepler, 3-for-(-3); Sean Coffey, 3-for-(-9)

Passing: Coffey, 8-for-18, 99, 4 INT; Allen, 0-for-2; Ryan Synoground, 1-for-4, -2, INT

Receiving: Davenport, 4-for-55; Marcus Stoulil, 1-for-17; Zach Wessels, 2-for-14; Bret Lukes, 2-for-11

Fumble recoveries: Ryan Larson (2); Trevor Feurerhak

Sacks: Anthony Condit

Penalties: 4-for-30

FARIBAULT STATS

Rushing: Jake Salaba, 9-for-125, 3 TD; Brett Grossman, 17-for-103; Riley Jandro, 19-for-102; Mitch Struve, 3-for-16; Darien Wenker, 4-for-5; Aaron Mata, 1-for-(-1); Nathaniel Van Loon 1-for-(-3)

Passing: Salaba, 6-for-11, 43

Receiving: Aric Hallet, 3-for-36; Cole McAdam, 2-for-13; Jandro, 1-for-(-6)

Penalties: 4-for-35