Packer football team falls to Owatonna
Published 10:40 pm Friday, September 26, 2014
Austin’s Kole Igou tackles Owatonna’s Isaac Rocha during the first quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packer football team made some strides towards improvement, but it wasn’t enough as they lost 42-14 to Owatonna in Art Hass Stadium Friday night.
Austin’s Brandon Edgar breaks free for a touchdown in the second quarter against Owatonna Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin (1-4 overall, 1-4 Big Nine) forced a three-and-out on Owatonna’s first possession and they held the Huskies to a fourth and one on their second possession, but Owatonna converted that fourth down and it scored a TD on that drive and its next two possessions to go up 21-0. The No. 10 ranked Huskies (4-1 overall, 4-1 Big Nine) converted a fourth and two and a fourth and eight on the possession that saw it go up 21-0.
“I keep using the excuse that we’re young, but we’re still playing young,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said. “Some young guys pick it up quicker, but this group of young guys are slowly getting it. They’re a great bunch of guys and they work their buns off. I think that we can compete with this team and as we get better, we can compete with a lot of teams.”
Austin bounced back when Brandon Edgar busted off a 41-yard TD run to make it 21-7 with 2:46 left in the first half, but Owatonna answered with a 3 play, 71-yard drive that took just a minute and a half to go back up 28-7 before the break.
“We had a lot of missed tackles tonight and we worked on tackling more this week than we have all year,” Vesel said. “It’s a fundamental that you’ve got to be good at if you want to be a good team.”
Austin’s Zach Coffey, right, hits Owatonna’s Julius Franklin (32) during the second quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s passing game struggled in the loss as Nate Conner went 4-for-19 with 50 yards. Conner ran for 70 yards and a TD and Edgar ran for 94 yards and a TD.
“Nate’s picking it up. He’s a smart kid and he works really hard at it,” Vesel said. “We’re trying to improve in the passing game area and he’s going to get it.”
SCORING SUMMARY
Owatonna 7 21 7 7 — 42
Austin 0 7 0 7 — 14
First quarter
(O) Julius Franklin 5 run (Aidan Buryska kick) (12 plays, 50 yards) 5:17
Second quarter
(O) Franklin 25 run (Buryska kick) (6 plays, 67 yards) 11:02
Austin’s Seth Clasen wraps up Owatonna’s Alex Emanuelson during the third quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
(O) Jake Borchert 20 pas from Alex Emanuelson (Bursyka kick) (13 plays, 58 yards) 3:06
(A) Brandon Edgar 41 run (Riley Grinstead kick) (1 plays, 41 yards) 2:46
(O) Blake Westphal 13 pass from Emanuelson (Buryska kick) (3 plays, 71 yards) 1:22
Third quarter
(O) Sam Hylle 21 run (Bursyka kick) (3 plays, 21 yards) 4:06
Fourth quater
(O) Emanuelson 19 run (Bursyka kick) (4 plays, 52 yards) 9:16
(A) Nate Co’nner 2 run (Grinstead kick) (7 plays, 80 yards) 6:22
AUSTIN STATS
Rushing: Brandon Edgar, 10-for-94, TD; passing: Conner, 16-for-70 TD; passing: Conner, 4-for-19, 50, INT; receiving: Jason Stoulil, 3-for-45; Edgar, 1-for-5; sacks: Sam Diggins (1); Nick Baier (1); penalties: 8-for-75
OWATONNA STATS
Rushing: 301; passing: 143; penalties: 5-for-35
