Football: No. 1 Scarlets overwhelm Packers
Published 11:17 pm Friday, September 11, 2015
Austin’s Logan Braaten, left, and Jesse Synoground, right combine to tackle Mankato West’s Van Neils during the second quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers got off to a slow start and they never recovered as they lost 56-16 to No. 1 ranked Mankato West in Art Hass Stadium Friday.
The Scarlets (4-0 overall) started the game off by converting a pair of fourth downs on an eight play, 36 yard drive for a TD. West went on to score touchdowns on its first five possessions of the game and it forced Austin (0-4 overall) to go three-and-out on its first five possessions of the game.
Austin’s Jon Gallagher busts off a big kick return against Mankato West in the first quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We had a great week of practice, especially offensively,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said. “They’re good and you’ve got to give them credit for some of the things that went wrong on offense, but we’ve got to execute on the offensive line. That’s my fault because I’m their coach. The only way we’re going to get good is if the offensive line comes around.”
The Scarlets were able to attack in a variety of ways as five different players scored a touchdown. West had 212 yards on the ground and 183 yards passing.
“Our depth on [defense] isn’t as good,” Vesel said. “We get tired and Nate Conner’s running routes [on offense] and then he’s covering guys deep every time [on defense]. It’s tough. It’s a difficult situation.”
Most of Austin’s offense came on a pair of read option plays by quarterback Jakob Crouch, who ran for 195 yards. Crouch went 76 yards untouched to score a TD that made it 35-8 with 6:46 left in the second quarter and he added another 40-yard TD score in the fourth quarter.
Vesel said he hopes the Packers use Friday’s game as a learning experience before they host Owatonna 7 p.m. Friday.
Austin quarterback Jakob Crouch clicks off a big run in the second quarter against Mankato West Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I love playing these good teams because you really find out where you need to improve,” Vesel said. “We had some good things at the quarterback position, the offensive line at times and on defense at times. Nobody likes to lose, especially losing big, but you learn more from losing.”
SCORING SUMMARY
MW 21 21 7 7 — 56
Austin 0 8 0 8 — 16
First quarter
(M) Van Neils 1 run (Tyler Defor kick) (8 plays, 36 yards) 7:04
(M) Jacob Dale 5 pass from Zach Annexstad (Defor kick) 4:42
(M) Neils 2 run (Defor kick) (2 plays, 34 yards) 3:50
Second quarter
Austin’s Elijah Andersen wraps up Mankato West’s Brock Annexstad after a reception in the second quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
(M) Neils 1 run (Defor kick) (6 plays, 48 yards) 11:56
(M) Charles Terry 29 pass from Annexstad (Defor kick) (6 plays, 64 yards) 7:06
(A) Jakob Crouch 76 run (Gash from Crouch) (1 plays, 76 yards) 6:46
(M) Brock Annexstad from 16 pass from Zach Annexstad (Defor kick) (13 plays, 62 yards)
Third quarter
(M) Neils 21 run (Defor kick) (7 plays, 52 yards) 3:01
Fourth quarter
(A) Crouch 40 yard run (Stoulil from Crouch) (5 plays, 65 yards) 7:18
(M) Zach Franke 37 run (Defor kick) (6 plays, 51 yards) 3:11
AUSTIN STATS
Rushing: Jakob Crouch, 10-for-195, TD; Brandon Edgar, 12-for-19; Tabarie Gunsallus, 2-for-15; Nate Conner, 4-for-12; Elijah Andersen, 1-for-7
Passing: Crouch, 4-for-18, 39, INT
Receiving: Conner, 1-for-15; Jany Gash, 1-for-12; Jason Stoulil, 1-for-12; Andersen, 1-for-0
Penalties: 4-for-30
WEST STATS
Zach Coffey steps in front of Mankato West’s Brock Annexstad and nearly picks off a pass in the endzone during the first quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Rushing: 212
Passing: 183
Penalties: 7-for-65
