MANKATO – The Austin football team was stuck in the mud as it couldn’t get its offense going in a 35-0 loss to Mankato West on the road Friday.

The Packers (3-3 overall) were shutout for the first time this season and they were held to 134 yards of offense. Austin had just one play of more than 20 yards as the Scarlets (5-1 overall) were able to control the line of scrimmage.

“Initially we were able to throw the ball a little, but it’s just hard and they stacked everybody in the box,” Austin head coach Brett Vesel said. “They’re a good football team and they’ve got some big boys. It’s hard pushing them around when you get no traction.”

With pouring rain and soggy field conditions, Mankato West wasn’t able to put up a lot of big plays either. But Scarlet quarterback Jack Foster threw TD passes of 21 and 15 yards in the first half to give Mankato West a 14-0 lead at the break.

“I think the defense was keeping us in the game, but when you give up in a couple of long ones and the score gets a little out of hand, it’s hard,” Vesel said. “We’ve just got to get back on track and fix some things.”

Austin will host Mankato East Friday at 7 p.m. for its final home game of the regular season.

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 0  0  0    0 – 0

Mankato West 7  7  14 7 – 35

First quarter

(MW) Dondre Spann 21 pass from Jack Foster (40 kick) 1:38

Second quarter

(MW) Wesley Henderson 15 pass from Foster (40 kick) 4:30

Third quarter

(MW) Foster 2 run (40 kick) 7:04

(MW) Andrew Mihm 44 return (40 kick) 5:48

Fourth quarter

(M) Jon Sikel 52 run (40 kick) 10:29

AUSTIN STATS

Rushing: Joe Seeman, 15-for-46; Tate Hebrink, 7-for-13; Aiden Wilson, 7-for-12

Passing: Hebrink, 4-for-18, 63, 4 INT

Receiving: Andrew Schumacher, 3-for-48; Seeman, 1-for-15

Penalties: 7-for-48

WEST STATS

Rushing: 123

Passing: 139