The unseen battles in the trenches often decide football games and the Packers are winning a lot of those battles through the first half of this football season.

Despite having to work in a new group of running backs and receivers this fall, the Austin football team has had an offensive explosion as it has scored at least 36 points in every contest. The remaining constant for the Packers has been a big a push up front as the team has some serious depth on the offensive line.

While some players have missed time due to injuries, the Packer offensive line hasn’t missed a beat and it has continued to create running lanes and provide a passing pocket throughout the season.

“Offensive line and defensive line are the most important positions on the field other than quarterback,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said. “When a guy went down in the past [years], we had to put in a guy that wasn’t very good. Right now, we can put in a good guy when a good guy goes down. That’s outstanding that we can do that and it definitely helps the team.”

The Packers have embraced a physical style of play up front and they’re starting to hit their stride as they’ve helped the team pile up 346 rushing yards in the last two weeks alone. Austin is averaging 40.3 points per game this season, which is the third most in Class AAAAA.

“We want to do the best we can,” Austin junior Noah Kaercher said. “Everybody has to beat the guy across from him on every play. We have to work together and we talk to each other out there.”

Austin’s depth has given the team plenty of bodies to put on the field and it allows players to get a quick breather in when they’re tired. It also causes them to work hard on a daily basis or risk sitting the bench. Vesel said some of the players who started on last year’s team haven’t been able to break into the starting lineup this season.

Austin senior Johnathan Olson said every player has to give it their all.

“There’s always someone nipping at your heels to take your spot, so you go hard each practice,” Olson said.

With so many moving parts up front, the Packers feel their best performances are still ahead of them. Kaercher feels the line can still play better, and it may have to, as the Packers have three ranked teams on their schedule over the last four games of the season. Austin will host No. 8 ranked Northfield (4-0 overall) in its homecoming game 7 p.m. Friday.

“I don’t think you’ve seen us have the best game we can have. It’ll be fun to watch us these next few games to see what we can really do,” Kaercher said. “It’s not always about who’s bigger. You have to work hard and use good technique.”

While it isn’t at it’s best yet, the Austin offensive line is certainly better than it was in week one when the offense sometimes struggled to move the ball against Rochester Mayo. Hunter Johnson, a senior, has made big strides at the point of attack.

“They’re continuing to get better. Hunter Johnson was shaky at the beginning of the year and now he’s become one our best offensive linemen right now,” Vesel said. “He was kind of a question mark, but he just works hard every day and it’s not just him either. There’s other guys that continue to get better because they’re working.”

Johnson said he’s embraced the physicality of playing up front and he knows he has to work hard to stay on the field.

“There’s not one day where you come to practice and you don’t leave with a couple of bruises or bumps. You’re always getting roughed up,” Johnson said. “We’ve switched things up over the last couple of weeks and we’re starting to reach our potential. Everyone’s one play from going in.”

Austin is off to its best start since the 2009 season and the Packers are going to face a big test when they play the Raiders, who are allowing just 10.3 points per game this season. Vesel said the Packers have had the right attitude this fall.

“We’ve always talked about expecting to win and I think we’re finally believing it,” Vesel said. “That doesn’t mean that you’re going to win just because you’re expecting it. But they’re working like we want them to and hopefully it turns into Ws and we continue to get better.”

PROVIDING A PUSH FOR THE PACK

Points per game: 40.3

Rushing yards per game: 140.25

Passing yards per game: 206.25