The Packers continued their defensive struggles as they saw an early lead disappear in a 51-27 loss to Rochester John Marshall at In Art Hass Stadium Friday night.

The Rockets (2-1 overall, 2-1 Big Nine) racked up a total of 514 yards of offense and they outscored Austin (1-2 overall, 1-2 Big Nine) 31-7 in the second quarter to take over the game.

“We moved a lot of guys around this week and there were a lot more guys on the field today than there were the last two weeks,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said of his defense.

The Packer offense got its passing game going as Nate Conner threw for 247 yards and two scores, but the Austin running game was held in check. Conner was dropped for a loss 10 times and the Packers had just one run of 20 yards or more.

“Offensively, we just didn’t block well at all,” Vesel said. “Guys were getting through there untouched. We just had some breakdowns.”

Austin looked to get back in the game when Brandon Edgar scored on a 6-yard TD run to make it 29-21 Rockets with 51 seconds left in the first half, but JM used that short amount of time to produce a 4 play, 74-yard drive that saw DJ Hardin score on a 43-yard TD catch on a wheel route with 13 seconds left in the half.

JM opened the second half with two straight TD drives.

Austin started strong as it jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after Jason Stoulil hauled in a 14-yard TD pass and Edgar had a 9-yard TD run, but the Packers quickly saw their momentum slip away.

After the Rockets scored on a 61-yard run by Cazz Martin, Austin snapped over its punter’s head into the end zone and JM recovered it for TD to make it 14-14. The Rockets would score four TDs in the the third as they pulled away.

“We had momentum swings,” said Stoulil, who had a career-high 171 yards receiving in the loss. “There were a couple of mis-executed plays here or there on both sides of the ball. They got some momentum and we couldn’t get it back.”

SCORING SUMMARY

JM 6 31 14 0 — 51

Austin 14 7 6 0 — 27

First quarter

(A) Jason Stoulil 11 pass from Nate Conner (Riley Grinstead kick) (8 plays, 79 yards) 10:52

(A) Brandon Edgar 9 run (Grinstead kick) (7 plays, 42 yards) 1:09

(JM) Cazz Martin 61 run (run failed) (2 plays, 65 yards) :16

Second quarter

(JM) Trevor Minnich 0 fumble recovery (Herzog run) (1 play, 0 yards) 9:29

(JM) Sam Aakre 43 pass from Adam Herzog (Moen from Herzog) (2 plays, 46 yards) 4:17

(JM) Dontrel Johnson 5 run (Byrne kick) (6 plays, 72 yards) 4:17

(A) Edgar 6 run (Grinstead kick) (9 plays, 65 yards) :51

(JM) DJ Hardin 43 pass from Herzog (Moen from Herzog) (4 plays, 84 yards) :13

Third quarter

(JM) Herzog 19 run (Byrne kick) (7 plays, 75 yards) 8:34

(JM) Brady Tuckner 10 pass from Herzog (Byrne kick) (6 plays, 52 yards) 3:06

(A) Elijah Anderson 9 pass from Conner (pass failed) (8 plays, 74 yards) 6:16

Fourth quarter

No scoring

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Brandon Edgar, 11-for-64, 2 TDs; Nate Conner, 25-for-56; Jesse Synoground, 1-for-(-5); Elijah Anderson 1-for-(-7); passing: Conner, 16-for-24, 247, 2 TDs, INT; receiving: Jason Stoulil, 11-for-171, TD; Elijah Anderson, 5-for-82, TD; Garett Ruroden, 1-for-8; sacks: Kole Igou (1); Spencer Lee (1); penalties: 7-for-50

JM STATS

Rushing: 328; passing: 186; penalties: 8-for-83