The Mankato West Scarlets seemed to score at will in a 52-7 victory Friday night over the Faribault Falcons.

It was the Scarlets' homecoming and they showed their alumni and the Falcon fans why they are the defending state champs and ranked tops in Class AAAAA this season.

They did it without their starting quarterback, too. Sophomore Zack Annexstad couldn't go due to injury but the offense really didn't seam to miss a beat.

Junior linebacker Robert Meidl was brought over to run the offense and threw six touchdown passes against Faribault.

The Scarlets won the toss and deferred to Faribault. The Falcons took the football and opened the game with a nice pass over the middle with junior quarterback Kade Hart hitting senior Ramsey Shaffer for a first down. Junior running back Felipe Ramirez then collected a seven-yard run. But Mankato West made the adjustments and shut the Falcons down, taking over on downs at their own 38.

Meidl hit senior running back Van Neils for a 27 yard TD. The 6-foot, 210-pound Neils scampered 30 yards in a one-play drive the next time Mankato West had the ball.

The short field was courtesy of the Falcons going for a first down on a fourth and two  deep in Faribault territory.

Faribault would again be stuffed on a fourth and short in their next series after going for a first down, and the Scarlets would take over on the Falcon 26 before Meidl would throw the first of his three TD passes to junior receiver Brock Annexstad. The TD would cover 15 yards.

After Faribault punter Eric Gannon had his punt blocked, the Scarlets set up at the 45 of Faribault and scored on a 10-yard Meidl-to-Annexstad connection.

With 24 seconds to go in the first half, Medl hit Annexstad again on a quick four-yard slant for a score and the Scarlet homecoming festivities at the half were filled with smiles and laughter.

Mankato West got the ball to start the second half at the Falcon 48-yard line and scored on another Meidl pass to senior Jacob Dale that covered 27 yards.

Faribault then made their first stop of West and blocked a punt, giving the Falcons the ball at the 23-yard line of the Scarlets.

With 3:10 to go in the third quarter, junior quarterback Kade Hart hit senior Ramsey Shaffer on a quick slant for the six-yard touchdown.

Meidl threw his final TD pass with 1:48 to go in the third quarter, but still played more minutes in the fourth quarter.

Junior kicker Tyler Defor kicked a 32-yard field goal with 5:50 to go in the game for the Scarlets' final score.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance Agents Faribault players of the game were seniors Ramsey Shaffer and Brady Combs. Both played significant time on both sides of the ball.

Shaffer came into the game the Falcons leading tackler with 46, and 26 were solo. Faribault's other starting safety junior, TJ Hunt, came into the contest the second leading tackler for the Falcons.

Unbeaten Mankato West goes to unbeaten Winona in their season finale next week while the Falcons are at home against Austin. The Faribault game will be on Power 96 Radio 95.9 FM and on the web at power96radio.com.

Faribault Warms Up at Mankato West
Faribault Warms Up at Mankato West
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