The No. 6 seeded Packers are hoping to put a stop on big plays as they prepare to open the Section 1AAAAA football tournament at No. 3 seeded Rochester Mayo Tuesday at 7 p.m.

When the Spartans (5-3 overall) beat the Packers (2-6 overall) 42-14 Sept. 28, Mayo had three scoring plays of 50 yards or more in the first half. Mayo finished with over 400 yards of offense in the win.

“They’ve got some good players and some good speed. We’ll have to play better on defense,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said.

Mayo’s offense will be difficult for the Packers to handle, but Austin also needs to get its own offense going. The Packers averaged just 15.6 points per game this season and their offense didn’t put up a score until the fourth quarter in a 40-19 loss to Albert Lea in the last regular season game of the season.

“We have to score points or we won’t win. Last game wasn’t real good,” Vesel said.

Austin has limited time to prepare for the Spartans, but they’ll have to make do.

“Everybody has to deal with it,” Vesel said. “It would’ve been nice to have a full week, but we’ve already played them so that makes it easier.”

The Spartans averaged 26 points per game this season and they allowed 19.6 points per game.

The winner of the Austin-Mayo game will play at No. 2 Rochester John Marshall (6-2 overall) Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.