Things started well for the Austin football team on homecoming night, but the game quickly spiraled out of reach as the Packers lost to Faribault 48-14 in Art Hass Stadium Friday night.

Austin (1-3 overall) forced a turnover on Faribault’s opening possession and Gavin Owens hauled in a 17-yard TD on fourth and seven from Nate Murphy to make it a 7-0 Austin lead, but the Packers wouldn’t score again until the third quarter.

Faribault (1-3 overall) picked off three passes in the game, including one that Demtreus Wood ran back for a 28-yard score to put the Falcons up 22-7 with 2:19 left in the first quarter. The Falcons pushed the lead to 30-7 at the break after Nick Ehlers hauled in an eight-yard TD pass as time expired.

Austin’s Agwa Nywesh tackles Faribault’s Mitch Nelson in the third quarter Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin was playing the game without injured starters Joe Seeman and Andrew Chesak and Spencer Johnson was playing through an injury.

“It was just not a good week after Owatonna for us,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said. “We had some guys that had to fill in for injured players. They worked hard, but it was too much for us to overcome at times. We didn’t play well defensively, especially up front, but we got better as the game went on. Offensively, it took us a while to figure out what they were doing. We’ve just got to start to make more plays.”

Austin’s Gavin Owens hauls in a first quarter touchdown from Nate Murphy against Faribault Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

SCORING SUMMARY

Faribault 22  8  6  12  —  48

Austin 7   0  7   0   —  14

First quarter

(A) Gavin Owens 17 pass from Nate Murphy (Schumacher kick) (4 plays, 20 yards) 11:00

(F) Cade McAdam 7 run (Nelson run) (9 plays, 65 yards) 6:48

(F) Joe Palmer 1 run (pass failed) (8 plays, 50 yards) 3:01

(F) Demtreus Wood 28 interception return (Nelson run) (1 play 28 yards) 2:19

Second quarter

(F) Nick Ehlers 8 pass from Palmer (Wood from Palmer) (8 plays, 68 yards) :00

Third quarter

(F) Alex Gardner 3 run (pass failed) (7 plays, 25 yards) 7:39

(A) Hunter Guyette 6 run (Schumacher kick) (2 plays, 86 yards) 4:23

Fourth quarter

(F) Nelson 33 run (pass failed) (4 plays, 48 yards) 11:26

(F) Gardner 20 run (kick failed) (5 plays, 52 yards) 7:29

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Hunter Guyette, 7-for-116, TD; Logan O’Rourke, 4-for-28; Nate Murphy, 12-for-15; Sam Hagan, 9-for-2

Passing: Murphy, 5-for-19, 72, TD, 3 INTs

Receiving: Gavin Owens, 2-for-53, TD; Andrew Schumacher, 2-for-13; Collin Dahlback, 1-for-5

Defense: Agwa Nywesh, 1 interception; Gavin Owens, 1 fumble recovery; Teren Olvera, fumble recovery; Connor Byram, 1 sack; Nico Forte, 1 sack

Penalties: 9-for-62

Austin quarterback Nate Murphy tries to escape a tackle in the second quarter against Faribault Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

FARIBAULT STATS

Rushing: 337

Passing: 30

Penalties: 6-for-50

Austin players celebrate with Gavin Owens after Owens’ first-quarter touchdown against Faribault Friday night at Art Hass Stadium. Eric Johnson/photodesk@auustindailyherald.com