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What do you do when you graduate your quarterback and your top two receivers?

You make adjustments.

The Austin football team will have a slightly different look on offense this season as the Packers are putting the spread offense on the back burner to focus on the rushing attack.

It’s an ideal offense for Austin senior running back Garlo Gee, who showed flashes of speed and power last season.

“We don’t want to get stepped on. We’re going to be successful,” Gee said. “It’s fun getting the ball, but it’s also tiring. I’ve got (Sam Winkels and Cale Tupy) blocking for me and we’re going to score a lot. I know that.”

Winkels and Tupy, who both played offensive line last year, are moving into more explosive positions this season as Winkels will line up at fullback and Tupy will be on the edge as an H-back.

“It’s just a matter of what we have and what our team is built on. We have four guys with experience on our line and Tupy and Sam have both played O-Line before,” Austin head coach Ed Schmitt said. “We have to use what we have and we lost a good quarterback with a great arm and two good receivers and now we have to understand that the running game is going to be our bread and butter.”

Winkels and Tupy are both versatile athletes as Winkels spent the summer on the wrestling mat, a sport where he has participated in two state tournaments and Tupy was busy on the golf course, where he was close to going to state as a junior.

“This is way different,” Tupy said. “Coming from an individual sport, this is way different physically and you’ve got to work with your teammates to get better.”

Winkels said that football and wrestling are complimentary sports, but the one thing that remains is that he gets to use his physicality.

“I love hitting people and getting physical,” Winkels said. “I guess you could say I’m a little bit of a nut job.”

Winkels, who saw time on the varsity football team as a freshman, said that this year’s team is already showing some positive signs.

“The big change is energy. Last year we had problems with focus and staying positive,” Winkels said. “These practices have been great energy-wise and we’ve been positive. I’m noticing a lot of changes in the older guys and the younger guys.”

The Packers are by no means scrapping the passing game this season, but Schmitt said that the focal point will be moving the ball on the ground. That fact has lit a fire under Gee, Tupy and Winkels, who are all seniors.

“I know Garlo’s excited about it. He wanted the rock last year and I know he’s excited,” Schmitt said. “We’ll send those guys out for passes too and Sam wants me to put in a fullback dive. He’s been begging for that. Of course last week I ran it for him kind of as a joke and he ran for a touchdown untouched.”

The Packers will open their season at Watertown-Mayer at 7 p.m. Aug. 30. Austin will host St. Croix Lutheran at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6.