Austin High has faced two larger and more experienced opponents in it first two games with a mixed results; a 34-18 win at Winona and a 35-28 loss to Mankato West at home.

Thursday, September 16, 1999

Austin High has faced two larger and more experienced opponents in it first two games with a mixed results; a 34-18 win at Winona and a 35-28 loss to Mankato West at home.

For their third game of the season at Faribault, the Packers could be looking in a mirror when they line up opposite the Falcons.

"They run a offense very similar to ours," Austin football head coach Steve Knox said. "If they can beat outside, they’ll go there, but if they can’t do that, they have a group of capable backs that can run the ball."

Like the Packers, the Falcons are still primarily a running team with a group of different backs getting the ball. The Falcons are led by 6-foot, 215 pound senior Justin Scheme at fullback and senior tail back Mike Wilfhart, who Knox described as "quick and agile," while the Packers offense has been carried by seniors Brian E. Heimer and Preston Horton.

Heimer, a 5-10, 210 pound fullback/nose guard, has rushed for 258 yards with two touchdowns and Horton, who was one of Austin’s top runners in track last spring, has been an emerging spark, gaining over 300 total yards with two TDs last week.

Both teams have basketball players new at quarterback. The Falcons have junior Andy Matzke, while Austin has senior Tanner Schieck, who has shown good poise in his first two games.

In its season opener with Albert Lea, Faribault blew out the inexperienced Tigers by over 40 points. In their second game, the Falcons lost 19-0 to defending Big Nine champ John Marshall, but had two costly goal line fumbles.

Knox said there were two keys if the Packers would win on Friday.

"Number one, there has to be execution by every individual, he said. "And Number two, there can no blown assignments."

Knox believes the cooler weather expected Friday will help slow some of the exhaustion which plagued the Packers in the fourth quarter against Mankato West

"We probably need to find way to give Brian (E. Heimer) a break earlier in the game," Knox said of the Packers’ captain and emotional leader who has been on the field for nearly every play this year.