The Packers were on the doorstep and about to get their first win in 14 tries, when the game was literally taken out of their hands Friday night in Art Hass Stadium.

Trailing by five, Austin quarterback Sean Coffey drove the Packers 72 yards in one minute and 25 seconds, but it was all for not when his pass to Zach Wessels on a slant pattern was picked off in the end zone and ran back 101 yards for a touchdown by Mankato East’s Matt Roberts to clinch the Cougars’ 24-13 win on Austin’s Homecoming night.

The decisive throw came on first and goal with 12 seconds left in the game.

“You give the kids freedom to make the plays and that was a check at the line,” Austin head coach Matt Schmit said. “He saw the guy was giving him inside position and we didn’t get it. That happens. You can’t fault them, they marched all the way down the field and one play doesn’t decide the game.”

Coffey hooked up with Wessels on completions of 9, 11, and 28 yards on the drive and he found Marcus Stoulil for a 15 yard gain to get in the red zone.

Stoulil, who caught five passes for 34 yards, could only watch as the last play of the game unfolded.

“When you’re out there on the field, you’re composed and everything. We were all ready for it and we just missed it by that much,” Stoulil said. “I’ve got to give it to Sean, he worked his butt off. I’ve got to give it to the line too because they gave him time and he was able to get it to us (on the last drive).”

The Cougars (1-3 overall, 1-2 Big Nine) took the lead for good when Tevyn Schmidt capped an eight-play, 60 yard drive with a 14 yard touchdown run with 1:37 left in the game. Schmidt’s run was set up on a 23-yard catch over the middle by Aaron Peterson, who also hauled in a 22-yard touchdown on a similar play in the first half to make it 6-0 East.

Austin (0-4 overall, 0-3 Big Nine) trailed 9-0 at the half, but it switched to the ‘Wildcat’ offense and stormed back into the game early in the second half.

Anthony Condit, who ran for 51 yards and had two sacks on defense, lined up under center and split carries with Will Davenport, who ran for 43 yards.

Davenport played the role of passer when he hit Wessels, a sophomore who had 102 receiving yards, for a 42-yard score on a half-back pass to make it 9-7 with 7:46 left in the third quarter. Wessels was completely uncovered on the play as East’s defense was playing the run.

Davenport also completed a key 22-yard pass on third down to Bret Lukes to set up Austin’s second TD of the night.

“Will is unbelievable, one word is supernatural,” Stoulil said. “Having the kid on the team is a blessing and it’s really fun to play with him. He’ll be a great football player one day.”

After getting a roughing the passer call on fourth and goal on their next possession, the Packers took the lead when Coffey’s tipped pass landed into the hands of Trevor Feuerhak on fourth and goal from the two-yard line to make it 13-12 with 9:20 left in the game.

Austin’s Eric Stephenson picked off a pass on East’s next possession, but an offensive holding call put the Packers in a hole they couldn’t get out of and they had to punt to the Cougars with 5:10 left in the game.

Schmit was pleased with how his team reacted in the second half.

“They had every reason to pack it in, but that’s not who they are. That’s a lot of heart,” he said. “We had a lot of kids hurt and a lot of kids playing both ways. I was proud of them.”

Andrew Hagan, a 6-5, 343-pound sophomore, was one of the Packers playing both ways as he was on the offensive line and filled in at defensive tackle.

“It’s not tough, it’s a good and fun experience playing both ways,” he said. “Every week we’ve been getting better and that’s a good thing. “

Hagan said the team is hungry for a win and he was quick to credit his coaches for preparing the team each and every week.

“I thank coach Schmit for all of the time he’s put in every week,” Hagan said. “He makes sure that we are bettering ourselves every hour of the day. (Assistant) coach (Dave) Eyre will put on gear to help us out in practice. He was in there to prepare for us for East’s bigger guys and it worked for us.”

Since it was homecoming, the game was played with a packed house and that was especially apparent in the fourth quarter when the crowd became a factor.

“There were times in the game when I couldn’t hear what was being said in my headphones,” Schmit said. “The support the fans showed tonight was fantastic.”

SCORING SUMMARY

East 0 9 3 12 — 24

Austin 0 0 7 6 — 13

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

(ME) Aaron Peterson 22 pass from Quinn Frisell (kick blocked) (8 plays, 81 yards) 4:00

(ME) Brandon Welter 30 field goal (5 plays, 14 yards) :24

Third quarter

(A) Zach Wessels 42 pass from Will Davenport (4 plays, 62 yards) 7:46

(ME) Welter 30 field goal (8 plays, 48 yards) 3:56

Fourth quarter

(A) Trevor Feuerhak 2 pass from Sean Coffey (15 plays, 80 yards) (pass failed) 9:20

(ME) Tevyn Schmidt 14 run (8 plays, 60 yards) (pass failed) 1:37

(ME) Matt Roberts 101 interception return (1 plays, 102 yards) :00

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Anthony Condit, 16-for-51; Will Davenport, 7-for-43; Sean Coffey, 5-for-13; Gabe Kasak, 1-for-4; Marcus Stoulil, 2-for-1

Passing: Sean Coffey, 12-for-22, 114, TD, INT; Davenport, 2-for-2, 64, TD

Receiving: Zach Wessels, 6-for-102, TD; Marcus Stoulil, 5-for-34; Bret Lukes, 1-for-22; Trevor Feuerhak, 2-for-19, TD; Condit, 1-for-1

Sacks: Condit (2)

Interceptions: Eric Stephenson (1)

Penalties: 6-for-45

MANKATO EAST STATS

Rushing: Tevyn Schmidt, 22-for-131, TD; Lincoln Benzkofer, 3-for-5; Matt Roberts, 2-for-0; Quinn Frisell, 2-for-(-16)

Passing: Frisell, 9-for-15, 123, INT

Receiving: Roberts, 4-for-58; Aaron Peterson, 2-for-45, TD; Brandon Adema, 1-for-10; Matt Wilaby, 1-for-8; Jordan Grams, 1-for-8

Penalties: 8-for-59

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