By Rocky Hulne
staff writer

The Austin football team suffered its worst loss in school history when it fell to Mankato West 72-0 in Art Hass Stadium on homecoming Friday.

The Scarlets (5-0 overall, 4-0 Big Nine), who are ranked No. 2 in Class ‘AAAA’ built up a 45-0 lead in the first half and their starting quarterback Phillip Nelson, who threw for 163 yards and four scores didn’t leave the game until late in the third quarter.

The Packers (0-5 overall, 0-4 Big Nine) stopped West from scoring on just one possession — when Alix Novak recovered a fumble against the Scarlets’ reserves. West converted four fourth downs on the game, including two for scores — one in the first half when Nelson hit Hunter Friesen with a 21-yard strike on fourth and five to make it 7-0 on the opening possession.

“It’s hard right now and it’s frustrating,” Austin head coach Matt Schmitt said. “I want to do better for these kids and I don’t feel like I’m doing it. They’re upset (about this game) and they should be.”

Nick Kaus ran a punt back 80 yards to make it 14-0 with 6:15 left in the first half and Kaus made a diving one handed catch on a 21-yard fade in the end zone off of a deflection by Austin cornerback Nathan Weisert to make it 26-0 in the second quarter.

“There were a few times where we were in position and we just didn’t’ come up with the play,” Schmit said.

The Scarlets scored three more touchdowns in the last five minutes of the second quarter — including a one-yard run by Nelson on fourth and goal and an eight-yard touchdown strike from Nelson to Jack Mages after an Austin fumble with 12.7 seconds left in the half.

Schmit didn’t hold it against the Scarlets for leaving Nelson in the game so long.

“You can’t expect mercy. It’s up to the other team to leave the starters in or pull them out,” he said.

STATS

Austin rushing: Josh Hart, 6-for-16; Anthony Condit, 4-for-13; Andrew Heickly, 4-for-10; Tom Olmsted, 1-for-7; Jay Ettinger, 5-for-3; Sean Coffey, 2-for-0; Ethan Larson, 1-for-0; Blas Estrada, 14-for-(-47)

Austin passing: Estrada, 5-for-10, 60, INT; Coffey, 0-for-1, INT

Austin receiving: Ettinger, 3-for-55; Heickly, 2-for-5

Austin sacks: Anthony Condit (1)

Austin penalties: 4-for-40

Mankato West rushing: Tyler Resner, 8-for-65, 2 TD; Tyler Jakes, 6-for-49, TD; Drew Weber, 5-for-41; Josh Cook, 3-for-19, TD; Phillip Nelson, 6-for-11, TD; Derek Frentz, 2-for-(-5)

Mankato West passing: Nelson, 11-for-16, 163, 4 TD

Mankato West receiving: Nick Kaus, 4-for-53, 2 TD; Hunter Friesen, 3-for-44, TD; Des Spann, 2-for-32; Andrew Frentz, 1-for-26; Jack Mages, 1-for-8, TD

Mankato West penalties: 3-for-25

Mankato West 20 25 14 13 — 72

Austin 0 0 0 0 — 0

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

(MW) 8:36 Hunter Friesen 21 pass from Phillip Nelson (Adam Athey kick) (8 plays, 71 yards)

(MW) 6:15 Nick Kaus punt return (Athey kick) (1 plays, 81 yards)

(MW) 3:54 Tyler Resner 2 run (kick failed) (2 plays, 8 yards)

Second quarter

(MW) 11:12 Kaus 21 pass from Nelson (kick failed) (6 plays, 65 yards)

(MW) 4:47 Nelson 1 run (Athey kick) (3 plays, 44 yards)

(MW) 2:07 Kaus 11 pass from Nelson (kick failed) (3 plays, 44 yards)

(MW) :12.7 Jack Mages 8 pass from Nelson (kick failed)

Third quarter

(MW) 10:42 Resner 22 run (Athey kick) (2 plays, 42 yards)

(MW) 1:58 Tyler Jakes 2 run (Andrew Rorick kick) (7 plays, 70 yards)

Fourth quarter

(MW) 6:46 Josh Lyons 31 fumble return (Rorick kick) (1 play, 31 yards)

(MW) 2:29 Josh Cook 20 run (kick failed) (6 plays, 30 yards)