Mankato West rolls Rogers in Minnesota high school football clash

Senior quarterback Bart McAninch led the Scarlets with four total touchdowns

MANKATO, MINNESOTA — The No. 6 Mankato West Scarlets (7-1) defeated the No. 8 Rogers Royals (7-1) 28-0 Wednesday night at Mankato West High School. 

Senior quarterback Bart McAninch threw two touchdowns and rushed for two more to give them the 28-0 lead at halftime. 

Senior Rogers quarterback Reece Dawson left the game with an injury in the second quarter. He spent the rest of game on the sideline in a shoulder-sling. Backup quarterback Landen Holterman also left the game with an injury during the second half. 

Here are three takeaways from the game:

McAninch makes the most of the second quarter

The Scarlets and the Royals were tied 0-0 early in the second quarter when University of Minnesota commit Jalen Smith intercepted Dawson and returned it to Royals' territory.

McAninch found receiver El Staley in the end zone for a 7-0 Scarlet lead. Four minutes later, McAninch ran in the end zone for a 14-0 lead. 

He was responsible for two more touchdowns in the second quarter. He ran in a 27-yard touchdown, and he threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to running back Carter Bersaw.

"[McAninch] was phenomenal," Mankato West head coach J.J. Helget said. "Our O-line played well and kept him fairly clean. He was able to step up in the pocket. As long as he can move in the pocket he's a pretty good quarterback."

Scarlets gear up for another playoff run

These two teams entered Wednesday's game ranked in the top 10 of SBLive's Minnesota Power 25. They also met last season in the Class 5A semifinal, and Mankato West won the game with a goal-line stand. 

And while Rogers' offense was blunted without its quarterback, the Scarlets still held them scoreless and moved the ball on a good Rogers defense. 

"Our defense was amazing," Helget said. "We knew they were going to run the football, and our defense is built to stop the run."

It was a great matchup before a difficult section playoffs for Mankato West, who will likely play No. 2 Chanhassen (7-0), their only loss this season, in the Class 5A, Section 2 final.

"When we played against Chanhassen, I felt like we played that game to not lose, Helget said. "We played tentative. Tonight, I thought we came out and we were aggressive from the start."

Rogers licks its wounds

The Royals entered the game undefeated, but this was going to be the toughest test they've faced all season. 

"They were more physical than us," Rogers head coach Marc Franz said. "We some tough breaks go against us in the second quarter and it steamrolled."

Franz said it was too early to know if Dawson or Holterman will be available for section play, and he said the Royals will have a bye in the first round. 

"Tomorrow morning we'll regroup and learn from the game and get ready for the playoffs," Fran said.

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-- Jack Butler | butler@scorebooklive.com | @sblivemn