RED WING — The Packers made it clear from the opening snap they were going to run and they did it all night in a 27-8 season opening win in Red Wing Thursday night.

Austin (1-0 overall) opened the game off with a 14 play, 75 yard drive that saw it run 11 times. The team converted a fourth and five when junior running back Jarrod Ryks broke off a 14-yard run. Nate Justice — who was 8-for-8 on his first half passes — capped the drive with a three-yard TD run.

“They were pretty nervous to start off, but I think every player has those initial jitters,” Austin head coach Tim Hermann said. “It was great to see that first drive with the combination of the run and short passing game. I thought Jarrod ran like a horse (all night) and Nate Justice made some good decisions. I’m just really happy about how our first game went.”

The defense equaled the start of Austin’s offense when junior defensive end Mike Hirsch broke into the backfield and forced Red Wing’s fullback Kelly Coleman to fumble on the Wingers’ first play from scrimmage.

“I wrapped around him and I ripped it out,” Hirsch said. “I think that got the team going.”

The Packers took possession from the Red Wing 33-yard line and they converted a quick four play drive that led to a three-yard TD plunge by Ryks — who finished with 176 total yards and three touchdowns.

“The line made some amazing holes and I give all the credit to them,” Ryks said.

As the Packers sprung to a 12-0 lead, their defense held down the Red Wing attack, only allowing two plays of over 10 yards all night, and holding Red Wing to eight plays where they either gained no yards or lost yards.

“We knew they were a running team and I was a little worried that they were just gonna jam it down our throats, but we did a good job of stopping them,” Hermann said.

The Packers front four was crucial to stopping the run as defensive ends Tyler Bentzin and Hirsch were in the backfield early and often.

“It was a lot different and a lot faster than I’m used to, but we just stuffed it to them the whole time,” said Bentzin, who recorded a sack in his first varsity start. “We were a lot quicker than them and Hirsch is a beast. He’s fast. We used our speed instead of strength.”

Austin closed the first half with a momentum builder when it capped a 14 play, 83 yard drive with a four-yard TD run by Ryks — who also converted a screen pass for 20 yards on a third and five to the Red Wing 20-yard line on the drive.

While Ryks ran solid all night, that screen pass and a 33-yard run in the fourth quarter were his only huge runs. Ryks almost broke his 33-yarder for a score, but was tackled from behind at the Red Wing 15-yard line.

“I wish I would’ve scored but I got caught from behind,” Ryks said. “But that’s all right. We dominated both sides of the ball and I’m excited for the next game, hopefully it turns out the same way.”

Red Wing scored its only touch down on a 70-yard run by Dan Roschen on a quarterback bootleg that fooled the Austin defense with just over five minutes left in the game.

The Packers got a road victory after not winning on the road all season last year.

“We won’t have a depressing bus ride home,” Bentzin said.

The Packers host Faribault next Friday at 7 p.m.

Austin rushing: Jerrod Ryks, 26-for-154, 3 TD; Nate Justice, 12-for-65, 1 TD; Jaamal Gibson, 3-for-14 yards

Austin passing: Justice, 11-for-13, 79 yards

Austin receiving: Gibson, 3-for-32; Ryks, 1-for-20; Marcus Gunderson, 2-for-17; John Maxfield, 1-for-5; Bob Astrup, 1-for-5

Sacks: Adam Hemann (1), Tyler Bentzin (1)

Penalties: 6-for-40

Red Wing rushing: Dan Roschen, 13-for-84, 1 TD; Dan Bergeson, 14-for-75 yards; Kelly Coleman, 5-for-11; Anthony Bethel, 1-for-4 yards

Red Wing passing: Roschen, 1-for-5, 9 yards

Red Wing receiving: Travis Balster, 1-for-12

Penalties: 4-for-20 yards

1 2 3 4 F

A 12 8 0 7 27

R 0 0 0 8 8

Scoring summary

First quarter

(A) 3-yard TD run by Nate Justice (two-point conversion failed) 5:25 (14 plays, 75 yards)

(A) 2-yard TD run by Jarrod Ryks (Miguel Hernandnez/Miller missed kick) 2:55 (3 plays, 33 yards)

Second quarter

(A) 4-yard TD run by Ryks (Justice to Gibson) 5:53 (14 plays, 83 yards)

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

(A) 3-yard TD run by Ryks (Hernandez/Miller kick good) 5:53 (8 plays, 56 yards)

(R) 70-yard TD run by Dan Roschen (two-point conversion good) 5:31 (1 play, 70 yards)