Faribault Football Dominates Austin

The Faribault Falcons football team scored 40 unanswered points en route to a 48-7 win over the Austin Packers in Spam country tonight.  The Falcons outgained Austin 385 to 137

The only reason total yardage wasn't greater for Faribault was the fact they started multiple times in Austin territory.

After the Falcons kickoff to start the game Austin started on their 23 yard line.  The Packers tried a long pass to midfield which was intercepted by sophomore defensive back Ian Ehlers at the Faribault 45.

From there Faribault went right down the field and scored on a quarterback keeper by junior Hunter Nelson from 1 yard out with 8:36 to go in the first quarter.  The two point conversion run by senior Alex Gardner was good.

Austin scored their only touchdown of the night on a 4th down with 12 yards to go deep in Falcons territory.  It was a 28 yard hook-up with 4:03 to go.  The Packers elected to kick the extra point to make the score Faribault 8, Austin 7.

That was as close as it would be.  On the kickoff following the Packers touchdown junior Zach Slinger bobbled the ball, then picked it up and kicked his run into a higher gear before bouncing down the sideline for a 96 yard touchdown.  The Gardner two point conversion run was unsuccessful. With 3:47 to go in the first quarter the Falcons had a 14-7 lead.

After a football was snapped over the head of the Packers punter Faribault took over at the 29 yard line of Austin.  On the very first play Nelson threw to an open AJ Worrall in the end zone.  Nelson ran a keeper for the two point conversion.  With 2:36 to go in the first quarter the score was Faribault 22, Austin 7.

Falcons senior Gael Ramirez picked off a pass to give Faribault great field position.  Five seconds into the second quarter Nelson connected with tight end John Palmerv on a 9 yard touchdown.  The two point conversion run by Gardner was good.

Faribault's final score of the first half came with 2:21 to go when Gardner ran in from three yards out.  Nelson threw a pass to Worrall but it did not work for the 2 point conversion.

Halftime score was 36-7 in favor of Faribault.

The Falcons got the ball to start the second half beginning on their 7 yard line.  A few plays later Nelson threw a beautiful pass to Carter Breitenfeldt for a 75 yard score.  A two point run attempt was unsuccessful.

With 4:58 to go in the third quarter Nelson finished the Falcons scoring with a 23 yard run into the end zone.  Ian Ehlers attempted to kick the extra point but missed wide to the left.

Faribault threw for 159 yards and rushed for 226 yards.  Austin managed 24 yards on the ground and 113 yards through the air.

Gardner carried the ball 16 times for 109 yards.  Nelson was the next leading ground gainer with  11 rushes for 64 yards and two scores.

Breitenfeldt led receivers with 97 yards on 3 receptions.  Worrall had 3 catches for 53 yards.

Palmer led the defense with 6 tackles, two for loss.  Senior Cade McCusker finished with 4 and 1/2 tackles and a half sack.  Matthias Lenway recorded a sack among his 3 and 1/2 tackles.

The Falcons had just one punt in the game.  Faribault collected 25 first downs to Austin's 7.  The Falcons with 17 rushing, 6 passing.  The Packers had 3 rushing 4 passing.

Faribault (2-2) hosts Winona Thursday, November 5th.  7:00 p.m. kickoff.