The No. 2 ranked Class 5A Mankato West Scarlets scored nearly every time they had the football in a 49-28 victory at Bruce Smith Field tonight.

Faribault was able to stay in the game until the final 20 seconds of the first half when the Scarlets scored twice, yes twice, to take a 28-7 lead into the half.

Faribault had the ball to start the game and scored on a 69-yard sprint by Dallas Stapleton. Cade Kletschka kicked the extra point and with 10:14 to go in the first quarter it was 7-0 Falcons.

Faribault came into the game with all three of their wins coming at home and two of them were Class 5A foes: Owatonna and Rochester John Marshall.

It looked like the home magic might continue until Mankato West got the ball on the next drive and marched 72 yards in seven plays with their 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior quarterback Robert Meidl scoring on a 11-yard keeper.

Faribault started their next drive on the 20 and moved to the 8 of the Scarlets before turning the ball over on downs.

Mankato West went 92 yards in six plays and scored on a Charles Terry 4-yard run.

Faribault started their next drive at the 35-yard line and again marched inside the red zone before fumbling and the Scarlets took over late in the first half.

With 20 seconds to go in the half, Meidl had a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 21-7 after the extra point kick.

The kickoff was not fielded cleanly by Faribault for the second straight week and, with just seconds to go, Miedl threw a 18-yard strike to give his team a 28-7 halftime lead.

Mankato West got the ball to start the second half and the Falcon defense stiffened to hold them to a 43-yard field goal attempt that came up just short.

Next time they got the ball at the 49-yard line and Meidl scored on a 17-yard keeper.

With 50 seconds to go in the third quarter, Terry looked like he was going to be brought down in the backfield by Chase Ernste but broke the tackle and Ernste nearly had him again before he went 60 yards for the score.

Faribault elected to punt in their next series because they were deep in their own territory and it was shanked so Mankato West took over on the 34 of Faribault.

Next play Terry ran the 34 yards for another score with 11:04 to go in the game.

The Scarlets decided to take their starters out and a fumble by the backup quarterback was scooped up by senior Falcon linebacker Henry Sanchez, who took it 75 yards for the score.

Faribault would finalize the scoring with 1:24 to go in the game when senior Michael Buendorf took the ball into the end zone from 39 yards away.

The Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault players of the game courtesy of Jason Krohn and Tony Langerud were the four guys who scored touchdowns. Dallas Stapleton, Kade Hart, Henry Sanchez and Michael Buendorf scored on a night when points were needed.

The unbeaten Scarlets will host Winona on Wednesday and Faribault travels to Austin. I'll be in Austin on Power 96 95.9 FM beginning at 6:45PM.

Faribault and Mankato West at Bruce Smith Field-photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Faribault and Mankato West at Bruce Smith Field-photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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