&ltA HREF=mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com&gtBy Jason Feldman

OWATONNA – The Austin Packers controlled their high school football game against Owatonna here Friday night in all phases except one – the scoreboard.

Saturday, September 23, 2000

OWATONNA – The Austin Packers controlled their high school football game against Owatonna here Friday night in all phases except one – the scoreboard.

Owatonna used some big plays and some timely plays to overcome a stingy Packer defense and take a 28-25 Big Nine Conference victory.

The turning point in the ball game came with just more than twominutes remaining in the first half.

Austin concluded a 17-play, 87-yard drive to tie the game 6-6 with 2:17 to go in the second quarter. The drive appeared to give the Packers the momentum heading into the halftime break. But the Huskies’ Neil Yentsch took the ensuing kickoff and burst through an open hole on the right side of the field to go 77 yards and put Owatonna up 14-6.

Huskies coach Jeff Williams said the kick return was an emotional boost for a team that had just allowed a nine minute, 27 second scoring drive.

"That was the turning point," Williams said. "Our kids were in shock because (Austin) had the momentum and everything was going against us."

Austin head coach Steve Knox said the kick return touchdown was frustrating, but things like that happen to everybody at some point.

"We just ha d a breakdown in coverage," Knox said, "but our kids have to understand they’re progressing every week and positive things will happen."

The Packers momentarily grabbed the momentum back midway through the third quarter when quarterback Mike Fuhrman connected with running back Isaac Knox for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed, but Austin appeared poised to regain control.

"Things just started clicking for us (in the second half)," said Fuhrman, who put up his best passing numbers of the season, 10 of 20 for 164 yards, with one interception and three touchdowns. "We mixed the pass and the run well. This was the best showing by our offensive line and our offense overall this year."

Austin was poised to counter another Huskies score that made it 21-12, until a Fuhrman pass attempt at the Owatonna 10-yard line was tipped and intercepted by Kyle Jamison, who returned the ball to the Austin 37.

Three plays later, Huskies quarterback Sam McKernon found running back Travis Ladwig on a 37-yard touchdown pass to extend the Owatonna lead to 28-12.

"Last week, we moved the ball well and had turnovers (in a 34-13 loss to Faribault)," Steve Knox said. "This week, we moved the ball well then (Owatonna) made big plays."

Austin’s offense again battled back. On first down from its own 43, Asham Bell broke a 37-yard run to the Owatonna 20, from where Fuhrman found Dan Smith two plays later to pull the Packers within 10 at 28-18.

The Packer defense held Owatonna on its next two posessions, allowing Austin’s offense to take over on its own 44-yard line with 3:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Fuhrman followed up a nine-yard scramble on first down with a 17-yard completion to Isaac Knox on second down.

With the clock ticking, Fuhrman handed off to Bell, who swept right, broke a tackle and went 37 yards for a Packer touchdown. The extra point made it a 28-25 game.

The Packers had one last chance with 1:29 remaining, but four straight incompletions gave Owatonna the win.

"Our offense is moving the ball well," Steve Knox said. "The kids just have to keep confidence in themselves and eventually things will go our way.

"Our guys gave everything they had tonight."

Austin (2-2) was led by Bell’s five carries for 76 yards and a touchdwon. Jaime Zavala rushed 18 times for 71 yards and caught three passes for 95 yards.

Dan Smith finished with two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown and Zach Aberg had one reception, a nine-yard touchdown to get Austin onthe board in the second quarter.

The Packers host Mankato East Friday at Wescott Field. Game time is 7 p.m.