Wingers blank Packers

Published 12:35 am Saturday, September 4, 2010

Austin's Jay Ettinger tries to scramble away from a sack during the fourth quarter against Red Wing Friday night in Red Wing. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

RED WING — The Austin offense stalled throughout the night in a 19-0 season opening football loss at Red Wing Friday.

The Packers (0-1 overall) didn’t get a first down until there were 47 seconds left of the first half and they never ran a play inside the Winger 20-yard line despite starting inside Red Wing’s 33-yard line on three different possessions.

“We talked about the little things and when you miss a blocking assignment that doesn’t help. That just can’t happen because it puts you in a predictable passing situation and teams will pick up on that,” Austin head coach Matt Schmit said. “You can’t have pressure one second into the pass and that was the same problem we had with our runs. We’re going to have to do things differently.”

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Each time the Packers started in Winger territory, they turned it over on downs. The only time they picked up a first down on those opportunities was when quarterback Josh Hart broke free from a sack attempt in the backfield and scrambled for eight yards on fourth and five in the fourth quarter.

“Our offense wasn’t clicking as much as we wanted to,” said Austin running back Blas Estrada, who had 60 yards of total offense. “It sucks losing here, but we’ll try to come out and work harder next game.”

Austin's Blas Estrada tries to sidestep Red Wing's Alex Quiding on a second half carry in their season opener Friday night in Red Wing. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The Packer defense gave up a 13 play, 70 yard drive on the Wingers opening possession, but after that Austin stepped up. The Packers forced four turnovers on the night and kept the score to within 6-0 until Red Wing started at the Austin 15-yard line after an interception by Kaleb Cushing.

Red Wing quarterback Joel Newman made it a 12-0 game on a rollout pass to Alex Quiding for a 16-yard score with 1:25 left in the first half.

“The defense played real well and they tackled hard. They kept us in the game and that’s great,” Schmit said.

The victory was Red Wing’s first win in two years and it snapped a 22-game losing skid for the Wingers (1-0 overall).

Schmit is hoping his squad can learn some things by watching the game tape before next week’s home opener against Rochester John Marshall.

Austin's Andy Wangen closes on Red Wing running back Marcus Noesen during the first quarter Friday night in Red Wing. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyheral.com

“They’re a good group of kids and they’re going to work hard. That’s what I like about them. We just have to execute,” he said.

STATS

Austin rushing: Blas Estrada, 13-for-29; Leon Delgado, 3-for-7; Anthony Condit, 1-for-4; Troy Peil, 1-for-1; Andrew Heickly, 1-for-(-3); Jay Ettinger, 1-for-(-5); Josh Hart, 9-for-(-5)

Austin passing: Hart, 4-for-15, 17, INT; Estrada, 1-for-4, 14; Ettinger, 0-for-2

Austin receiving: Estrada, 4-for-17; Andrew Kaiser, 1-for-14

Interceptions: Nathan Weisert (1)

Penalties: 3-for-25

Red Wing rushing: Marcus Noesen, 23-for-61; Mike Steogra, 5-for-46, TD; Coleman Kelly, 11-for-45; Joel Newman, 1-for-(-2)

Red Wing passing: Newman, 3-for-7, 53, 2 TD, INT

Red Wing receiving: Alex Quiding, 2-for-28, 2 TD; Tyler Swenson, 1-for-15

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 0 0 0 0 — 0

Red Wing 6 6 0 7 — 19

First quarter

(RW) 5:39 Stegora 11 run (kick failed) (13 plays, 70 yards)

Second quarter

(RW) 1:25 Newman 16 pass to Quiding (run failed) (3 plays, 15 yards)

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

(RW) 9:31 Newman 22 pass to Quiding (Marcus Dodge kick) (6 plays, 54 yards)