Pack plays big against Falcons; Austin football team wins 3rd straight game to close out regular season

Published 10:42 pm Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Last season Austin senior Corey Waller was on the sideline with an injury when Faribault running back Felipe Ramirez racked up an FHS record 333 rushing yards and six TDs in the  Falcons’ 56-41 win over Austin.

This time around, Waller and the Packers (3-5 overall) turned the tables as they held Ramirez to a 173 yards and two scores on 31 carries as Austin picked up its third straight win to close out the regular season. The Packers finished with a 34-13 win at Art Hass Stadium Wednesday.

Austin’s Jakob Crouch battles through Faribault defenders on a second-quarter run Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Jakob Crouch battles through Faribault defenders on a second-quarter run Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“This year I just wanted to knock him down and beat him down,” Waller said. “Last year he broke the school record and I wasn’t going to let him do that against us again this year. We had to come out with more fire than they did. We came together as a team and we rally tackled.”

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Both teams were playing with their back-up quarterbacks due to injuries. With Tate Hebrink being a little banged up, Austin turned to senior Jakob Crouch and he delivered with 117 passing yards and 107 rushing yards. Crouch completed a 26-yard pass to Tyler Tupy to set up a one-yard TD by Tabarie Gunsallus that made it 13-7 Austin in the second quarter and Crouch also found Gavin Owens for a 25-yard TD pass that made it 20-7 right before the half.

Crouch found out he would be starting on the day of the game.

“Throughout the day I had butterflies,” Crouch said. “I realized I had to step up and win this for everybody, the town and the seniors.”

Gunsallus had a big impact in the backfield for the Packers as he racked up 194 yards on the ground and four TDs. He used a 64-yard scamper to set up his own 16-yard TD that made it 27-7 early in the second half.

Austin’s Tabarie Gunsallus carries on a first-quarter run against Faribault Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Tabarie Gunsallus carries on a first-quarter run against Faribault Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“It just feels good knowing that we can come out and play with some passion. If they knock us down, we have to play with intensity and heart,” Gunsallus said. “I’m feeling confident in my team. The line is going to block and the quarterback is going to make that read.”

Faribault (3-5 overall) pulled to within 27-13 when Ramirez scored his second TD with 5:22 left in the third quarter, but they weren’t able to put any more pressure on the Packers. Waller said the Packers had a little extra motivation on their side, besides it being senior night and a key game in the Section 1AAAAA standings.

“To absolutely embarrass them was great,” Waller said. “Our coaches showed us a newspaper article before the game that said our defense couldn’t do anything. We came in and proved them wrong.”

Austin senior Jayden Erie had a nice moment at the end of the game when he was able to knock in a PAT. Erie, a linebacker, missed the majority of the season with injuries.

“That was really nice to see,” Crouch said. “He came out tried to play this year and it didn’t work out, but he stuck with the team and it was nice to see him score.”

Austin will open the Section 1AAAAA Tournament at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Eli Marks wraps up Faribault’s Ryan Teske in the first quarter Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Eli Marks wraps up Faribault’s Ryan Teske in the first quarter Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

SCORING SUMMARY

Fariabult 0    7  6  0  —  13

Austin 7  13  7  7  —  34

First quarter

(A) Tabarie Gunsallus 1 run (Zach Chandler kick) (7 plays, 28 yards) 9:38

Second quarter

(F) Felipe Ramirez 3 run (Cade Kietschka kick) (11 play, 68 yards) 11:39

(A) Gunsallus 1 run (kick failed) (12 plays, 69 yards) 7:32

(A) Gavin Owens 25 from Jakob Crouch (Chandler kick) (11 plays, 72 yards) :30

Third quarter

(A) Gunsallus 16 run (Chandler kick) (2 plays, 80 yards) 11:41

(F) Ramirez 2 run (kick failed) (12 plays, 62 yards) 5:22

Fourth quarter

(A) Gunsallus 13 run (Jayden Erie kick) (1 play, 13 yards) 1:38

Austin’s Tyler Tupy heads up-field after a reception in the second quarter against Faribault Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Tyler Tupy heads up-field after a reception in the second quarter against Faribault Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

STATS

Rushing: Tabarie Gunsallus, 28-for-194, 4 TD; Jakob Crouch, 21-for-107; Sam Hagan, 3-for-9

Passing: Crouch 5-for-7 117, TD

Receiving: Jany Gash, 1-for-45; Tyler Tupy, 2-for-37; Gavin Owens, 1-for-25, TD; Trent Brown, 1-for-10

Defense: Eli Marks, 1 sack; Brown, 1 fumble recovery; Tupy, 1 fumble recovery; Corey Waller, 1 fumble recovery

Penalties: 3-for-32

FARIBAULT STATS

Rushing: 210

Passing: 67

Penalties: 3-for-15

Austin’s Logan Braaten celebrates a stop against Faribault in the fourth quarter Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Logan Braaten celebrates a stop against Faribault in the fourth quarter Wednesday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com