If the Austin football team wants to knock off Faribault on the road Friday at 7 p.m., the Packers will have to mind the gaps on defense.

The Falcons (1-2 overall, 1-2 Big Nine), who are coming off a 35-14 loss to Owatonna, love to run an offense that includes multiple ball carriers and they like to make the defense think with a lot of mis-direction.

Focus will be key for a Packer team that is allowing 46.7 points per game.

“We’re stressing to do our jobs on defense and not try to make every play,” Vesel said.

Last season Austin (1-2 overall, 1-2 Big Nine) handily beat the Falcons in a playoff game in Faribault and some of this year’s players were around to play in that game. Others were not in the varsity lineup last season.

“Having beat that team in the past definitely helps, but we’re a new team and they’re essentially a new team,” Vesel said. “I think our confidence is not bad anyway, we’ve just got start to execute and do some things to win.”

Austin and Faribault each have one similar opponent in Rochester John Marshall. The Rockets beat the Falcons 36-14 in week one and Austin lost to JM last week 51-27.

Vesel is expecting the game to be a challenge.

“It’ll be a real competitive game,” he said. “They’re going to be a tough, hard-nosed team and we’ve got to match that intensity.”