This time last year the Packer football team was 1-4 when it rattled off a three-game winning streak to close out the regular season.

With three straight games against teams that currently have one win, Austin is hoping history repeats itself this season. The Packers (1-4 overall, 1-4 Big Nine) will try to get things going when they play at Red Wing (1-4 overall, 1-4 Big Nine), which is coming off a 51-20 loss to Mankato West, this Friday at 7 p.m..

The Wingers are averaging 10.8 points per game and allowing 33.8 points per game. They have been shut out twice, but they found an offensive rhythm in the second half against the No. 1 ranked Scarlets as Travis Toivonen had 140 yards receiving and a touchdown for Red Wing.

The Packers are coming off a 42-14 loss to No. 10 Owatonna and Austin head coach Brett Vesel said his squad has to continue to get better this week.

“We have to execute. Right now we’ve got a few injuries and illnesses that are kind of hurting us. The guys that are in there have to know what they’re doing,” Vesel said. “We’ve got to play better than we have and I expect we will. Our kids are doing good mentally. They came to practice Monday and came hard. Tuesday was a pretty good practice and [Wednesday] was a better practice. These kids are continuously getting better. It’s been a good week.”

The Packers are still looking for a good defensive effort as they haven’t held a team to less than 40 points all season and they have allowed 46 points per game. Austin has scored 26 points per contest.

The Wingers will provide a physical test on both sides of the ball.

“They’ve got some nice lineman and they’ve got a nice quarterback with some good receivers,” Vesel said. “They can do some stuff offensively. Up front they definitely have some good linemen on both sides of the ball.”

The Packers and Wingers don’t have any common opponents and Red Wing’s lone win came in week two when they beat Winona 21-7.