He is the Austin football team’s most dangerous weapon, a funny-car fast ballcarrier by who can turn the corner on a hiccup.

Sunday, September 26, 1999

He is the Austin football team’s most dangerous weapon, a funny-car fast ballcarrier by who can turn the corner on a hiccup.

And as proof that God-given athletic ability is measured out in unfair portions, he also has a innate knack for finding the seam in a defense.

On Friday night at Wescott Field, that back, Preston Horton, had both a game to remember and a game to forget. His night was a microcosm of the Packers’ total effort – equal parts dazzle and distress – in a 39-29 defeat at the hands of the Owatonna Huskies.

On the other side of the football, there was Travis Ehrich. He is Owatonna’s most dangerous weapon, a human truck-pull playing fullback. And as proof that God-given athletic ability isn’t everything, Enrich’s arms and thighs appear shaped from lifting 45-pound forged plates like most gluttons lift their forks – everyday and often. His game was a microcosm of the Huskies’ total effort – a hard-nosed, mistake-free brand of football that led to a 39-29 defeat of Austin.

"I was sick throughout the week," Horton said, and likely even sicker after Ehrich scooped up Horton’s fumble on Austin’s third play of the game and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown.

But eight plays later, Austin was back in it, holding its only lead at 7-6. On the drive, quarterback Tanner Schieck hit Matt Smith with a 57-yard pitch-catch-and-dash to set up Schieck’s 5-yard TD keeper two plays later.

"We knew it was going to be tough," Ehrich said. "Austin doesn’t quit."

But Austin’s second big mistake came quickly, on Owatonna’s first offensive series.

After Brian Heimer and Mike Cunningham stuffed Cory Urban for no gain on third down, Dan Smith ran into the punter on fourth after the football barely escaped his outstretched arms. Smith’s contact with the kicker drew a flag and gave Owatonna new life.

The Huskies proceeded to drive 41 yards for the touchdown, a 2-yard sneak by quarterback Tim Nierengarten.

Down 12-7, Austin picked up two quick first downs, using another connection between Schieck and Matt Smith to move near midfield. But on the next play, Schieck’s pitched the ball to Horton, who never got a handle on the low pitch. Standout defensive lineman Eli Ross was on the ball in an instant. Three plays later, Nierengarten found Craig Braaten in the flat and he raced 21 yards for a touchdown and a 20-7 lead.

Then Horton put Austin back in the game. He fielded the Owatonna kickoff at the 2 yard line and burst north. He was upon his blockers in an instant, flying through the hole they created for him, before fading to the right sideline. By then it was too late for the pursuing Huskies.

Horton’s jets were firing. He scored easy, making it 20-15 as the first quarter clock wound to zeros.

"I got over (being sick) after the first quarter," he said. "Obviously a kickoff return for a touchdown picks everybody up."

For Austin the mistakes were over. The fumbles, the key penalties, they never resurfaced.

But Owatonna scored twice more in the second quarter, including on the series following Horton’s dash.

On that drive, Ehrich had carries for 11, 15 and 13 yards before hitting paydirt on a 3-yard gut bust.

Austin – down 33-15 at the half – didn’t figure out Enrich and Co. until after a halftime’s worth of adjustments.

Austin went on to win the second half 14-6 behind some fine sweeps by Horton, some fine throws by Schieck and some fine defense.

"They were worried," defensive coordinator Randy Smith told his Packers on the field after the game.

But they were never playing catch-up, something the Packers were doing from the very start.