ROCHESTER — The Packers had trouble getting started and never recovered in a 38-14 loss at John Marshall Friday.

The Rockets controlled the line of scrimmage all night as they held Jerrad Ryks below 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. Ryks had 33 yards on 18 carries as JM filled up the running holes.

“I thought our offensive line got taught a lesson tonight. Until they are able to do what they’ve done against other teams consistently, we’ve got a problem,” Austin head coach Tim Hermann said. “They have to play much better.”

Austin (2-5 overall, 1-5 Big Nine) trailed 10-0 with three minutes left in the first half when the Rockets (4-3 overall) seized momentum. It started when JM’s Max Foley sacked Austin quarterback Jaamal Gibson and forced a fumble which the Rockets recovered.

JM started at Austin’s 31 yard-line and quickly converted a 25-yard pass from Joel Schauder to Andrew Roble that set up a two-yard quarterback sneak by Schauder for a touch down on fourth and goal with just 27 seconds left in the first half.

The Rockets made it a 24-0 game when Mohammed Thurman opened up the second half with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touch down.

“I’m pretty disappointed in the effort tonight,” Hermann said. “This is probably the first game that we came out and didn’t play well as a team. I don’t think we did as well as we could’ve.”

Austin’s lone score against JM’s first-team defense came in the third quarter when Ryks slammed home a one-yard run to make it 24-7. JM was called for two personal fouls and had a total of 40 yards of penalties on the Packers’ 62-yard drive.

Austin couldn’t hold off JM’s passing attack in the fourth quarter as Schauder finished 9-for-14 for 101 yards.

“It’s the seventh week. If we are not playing slants and fades well enough now, then we can’t find any body new (to do it),” Hermann said of his secondary. “They need to be better. I tell the guys if they prepared well during the week, they’ll be fine. But if they don’t prepare, they’ll be in trouble.”

Offensively, Austin played Gibson and T.J. Fritz at quarterback in replacing Nate Justice — who is out for the year with a broken bone. While both were under heavy pressure in their playing time, Hermann saw enough to name Fritz the starter for Wednesday’s game against Albert Lea.

“You gotta be able to react to what’s happening,” Hermann said. “I got a great feel for them and T.J.’s going on Wednesday.”

Gibson left the game with a hip pointer in the fourth quarter and his status is unknown.

“We’re running out of players here and I don’t like that situation,” Hermann said.

JM came out focusing on Ryks as they kept eight in the box and stopped the Packers on three-and-outs on their first two possessions of the night.

“They had a couple of big kids up front and their middle backer was really active,” Hermann said. “They did a nice job and kind of plugged things up on us.”

Austin will close out its regular season against Albert Lea Wednesday. The Section 1AAAA playoffs begin Tuesday, Oct. 21.

STATS

Austin rushing: T.J. Fritz, 8-for-53, TD; Jerrad Ryks, 18-for-33; Jesse Baker, 4-for-19; Jaamal Gibson, 3-for-(-14)

Austin passing: Gibson, 1-for-3, 19; Fritz, 2-for-8, 18

Austin receiving: Marcus Gunderson, 1-for-19; John Maxfield, 2-for-18

Penalties: 3-for-25

Sacks: Mitch Morem

John Marshall rushing: Drew Mayer, 24-for-98, TD; Nathan Polansky, 5-for-34, TD; Joel Schauder, 6-for-29, TD

John Marshall passing: Schauder, 9-for-14, 101, TD

John Marshall receiving: Andrew Roble, 4-for-66, TD; Storm Soto, 1-for-10; Jordan Stokes, 1-for-10; Taylor Giordano, 1-for-8

Penalties: 11-for-100

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 0 0 7 7 — 14

JM 7 10 7 14 — 38

First quarter

(JM) 5:05 Drew Mayer 8 run (Giordano kick) (4 plays, 32 yards)

Second quarter

(JM) 3:34 Giordano 23 field goal (7 plays, 39 yards)

(JM) :27 Schauder 2 run (Giordano kick) (5 plays, 31 yards)

Third quarter

(JM) 11:47 Mohammed Thurman 99 kickoff return

(A) 4:07 Ryks 1 run (Matt Mueller kick) (12 plays, 63 yards)

Fourth quarter

(JM) 9:37 Polansky 18 run (Giordano kick) (10 plays, 15 yards)

(A) 1:08 Fritz 12 run (Mueller kick) (10 plays, 64 yards)