ROCHESTER — The Austin football team couldn’t finish a late drive in an 8-6 loss at Rochester Century Friday.

A costly penalty all but ended Austin’s chances when the team was flagged for an illegal spike deep in Century territory. With just under a minute left, Packers quarterback Nate Justice spiked the ball out of shot gun, and Austin was sent back to the 43-yard line of Century with a third and 33.

“You can’t spike out of shot gun and I didn’t realize that,” Austin head coach Tim Hermann said. “It was my mistake.”

After the penalty Justice threw two lobs to Marcus Gunderson, who had seven catches for 108 yards on the night, that fell incomplete.

The Packers (1-2 overall, 0-2 Big Nine) had driven from their own 13 to the Century 23-yard line in under four minutes after a nine yard run by Jared Ryks on 4th and one.

The drive was triggered after Austin defensive end Mike Hirsch chased down and sacked Panthers QB Kyle Menkosky on a fourth and goal from the Austin 3-yard line. Century also drove down the Austin 3-yard line on its previous possession, but it fumbled a snap on 4th and goal from the Packer 3-yard line.

The game’s final score came when Century (1-2 overall, 1-1 Big Nine) took the lead for good at the end of the first half when it blocked an Austin punt for a safety with 27 seconds left in the second quarter.

“We talked about it and they were all aware that they were gonna get pressure and we had to get it out fast. I thought the snap was decent I just don’t know were the leak was. It seemed like it came from both edges,” Hermann said. “I thought seriously about (going for it on fourth down), but I knew I’d really put us in a bind if we didn’t make it. There was too much time left. They would’ve had a couple of shots at us.”

The punt came on fourth and one after Austin had started the possession from its own one-yard line on an interception by Aaron Dooley off a tipped pass that ended a Century scoring threat.

Austin’s own miscues kept it from putting more points on the board in the second half. The Packers had two lost fumbles and some key penalties.

“We just can’t make mistakes,” Hermann said. “The defense holds on and gives up just six points. Then we make a mistake on special teams and have those turnovers. We’ve got a team that can play, but we’ve got to make plays when we need them. You just cannot fumble the football and right now were having difficulty with that.”

The Packers had a drive at the end of the third quarter where they converted two third downs and a fourth and five on a 12-yard pass from Justice to Gunderson that gave Austin the ball on the Century 43-yard line. But after Gunderson caught a pass at the Century 36-yard line, he lost a fumble. The Packers first drive of the second half ended when Gunderson was called for offensive pass interference after hauling a 25-yard lob pass from Justice to the Century 21-yard line. In all, the Packers had a season-high 70 yards in penalties.

“There were some big penalties tonight, but we had a lot of penalties,” Hermann said. “We’re moving along, all the sudden you get a 10-yard penalty and its 2nd and 18 instead of something good.”

The Packers tied things up in the second quarter on a nine play, 52 yard drive that was capped by a one-yard TD run by Ryks — who ran for 104 on the night.

The key play of that drive was a 31-yard fade pass from Justice to Gunderson on third and seven.

Justice had a season-high 158 yards passing — with 120 of those yards coming in the second half.

“The difficult thing about playing quarterback is you have to make the right decision all of the time,” Hermann said. “Nate made some good decisions tonight. However, he and I will both attest to the fact that you can’t just make a few good decisions, you have to make them all.”

Century scored early on an 11-yard TD run by Kyle Menkosky on a quarterback draw on 4th and 10. Menkosky snuck through the middle of the Austin defense to make it 6-0 halfway through the first quarter.

Justice fumbled at Austin’s 20-yard line with three minutes left in the first half, but Dooley’s interception ended that drive by Century.

The Austin defense racked up five sacks — with Hirsch getting two.

The Packers play at Winona (2-1 overall) next Friday.

“ Winona will be a challenge, but I still feel like we can win with this team,” Hermann said. “We can play in this league.”

STATS

Austin rushing: Jerrad Ryks, 29-for-104, TD; Jaamal Gibson, 1-for-(-4); Nate Justice, 6-for-(-19)

Austin passing: Justice, 11-for-18, 158, INT

Austin receiving: Marcus Gunderson, 7-for-108; Ryks, 1-for-22; John Maxfield, 1-for-13; Gibson, 1-for-8; Bob Astrup, 1-for-7

Penalties: 9-for-70

Sacks: Mike Hirsch (2), Tyler Bentzin, Matt Mueller, Andrew Wangen

Interceptions: Aaron Dooley

Century rushing: Chad Zastrow, 16-for-87; Kyle Menkosky, 16-for-74, TD; Eric Christenson, 11-for-63; Josh Gentlin, 1-for-1; Sam Behrens, 1-for-1

Century passing: Menkosky, 2-for-5, 30, INT

Century receiving: Ryan Forsman, 1-for-17; Joel DeGoey, 1-for-13

Penalties: 3-for-30

Fumble recoveries: Behrens, Michael Collins

Century 6 2 0 0 — 8

Austin 0 6 0 0 — 6

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

(C) Kyle Menkosky 11 run (kick failed) 5:11 (6 plays, 48 yards)

Second quarter

(A) Jerrad Ryks (kick failed) 6:46 (9 plays, 52 yards)

(C) Century blocked punt for safety :27

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

No scoring