ROCHESTER — The Austin football team set the tone early on as it avenged an earlier regular season loss and knocked off No. 4 seeded Rochester John Marshall by a score of 28-12 in the Section 1AAAAA quarterfinals Tuesday.

The Packers will play at top-seeded Owatonna in the Section 1AAAAA semifinals 7 p.m. Saturday.

On Tuesday, Austin (4-5 overall) grabbed early momentum when Luke Hawskhead blocked a punt that set up a 1-yard TD by Tabarie Gunsallus which made it 7-0 Austin near the end of the first quarter. Hawkshead also helped lead an Austin defense that held the Rockets (2-7 overall) to just 63 yards on the ground.

“The game started off slow for both teams and after that [blocked] punt, we controlled our destiny at that point,” Hawkshead said. “We felt like we could out-play them if we played as a team, tackled, and kept our heads up.”

The Packers dominated the second quarter as Gunsallus had a 34-yard TD run to make it 14-0 and Tate Hebrink had a two-yard TD run that made it a 22-0 game at halftime. Austin had lost to JM 45-20 in the regular season opener and the Packers hadn’t beaten JM since 2009. It was also Austin’s first playoff win since 2013.

“The defense played really good,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said. “We’re really confident right now about our defense. That’s awesome to be able to come out here and stop people.”

The Rockets pulled within 28-12 after Jordan Velez got free for a 91-yard TD catch with 8:03 left in the game, but JM wasn’t able to do any more damage as the Packer defense slammed the door shut. The game became a little sloppy in the second half as high winds and strong rain picked up.

“It was hard nosed football, rainy and the trenches were muddy and dirty,” Austin senior lineman Kyle Oberbroeckling said. “It was fun football and I couldn’t ask for a better game.”

Gunsallus had another big night for the Packers as he ran for 286 yards and two TDs. Gunsallus now has run for 690 yards and nine TDs in his last three games.

“At the beginning of the year, he was good,” Hawkshead said of Gunsallus. “Now he’s just phenomenal.”

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 7  15  6  0  —  28

JM 0   0   6  6  —  12

First quarter

(A) Tabarie Gunsallus 1 run (Jakob Crouch kick) (1 play, 1 yard) :05

Second quarter

(A) Gunsallus 34 run (Crouch kick) (1 play, 34 yards) 6:35

(A) Tate Hebrink 2 run (Tyler Tupy from Hebrink) (9 plays, 83 yards) 1:22

Third quarter

(A) Hebrink 1 run (kick failed) (10 plays, 73 yards) 8:16

(JM) Steven Bruggenthies 3 run (pass failed) (6 plays, 57 yards) 6:34

Fourth quarter

(JM) Jordan Velez 91 pass from Jared Juth (1 play, 91 yards) 8:03

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Tabarie Gunsallus, 42-for-286, 2 TDs; Tate Hebrink, 18-for-62, 2 TDs; Sam Hagan, 1-for-3

Passing: Hebrink, 7-for-19, 92, 2 INT

Receiving: Gavin Owens, 3-for-39; Jany Gash, 2-for-34; Tyler Tupy, 2-for-19

Defense: Logan Braaten (1 fumble recovery, 1 sack) Luke Hawkshead (1 blocked punt, 1 sack); Eli Marks (1 sack)

Penalties: 2-for-20

JM STATS

Rushing: 63

Passing: 188

Penalties: 3-for-16