By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO —
Philip Nelson passed for 1,900 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, and if last week’s season-opener is any indication, the Mankato West junior quarterback might be ready to challenge the program’s records.
“We feel like we have some great wide receivers, and they are one of the strongest parts of our team,” coach Mark Esch said. “Philip is a great quarterback, and he’s going to benefit from that.”
Nelson opened the season Thursday by passing for a career-high 313 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-0 nonconference victory at Northfield. That brings his career totals to 175 completions in 331 attempts for 2,751 yards and 31 touchdowns.
The West career passing records are 349 completions, 546 attempts, 4,800 yards and 49 touchdowns, all of which are well within reach for the junior. The single-season records are 147 completions, 271 attempts, 2,613 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Nelson’s previous best game was a 298-yard effort in the state semifinals against Totino Grace last season.
Esch said it’s unlikely that Nelson will run the ball as much as he did last week. Nelson gained 89 yards on 21 carries, four of which were scrambles on passing plays.
West begins defense of its Big Nine Conference championship tonight at Owatonna, which lost 42-14 to Wayzata in its opener.
“You have to play them sometime,” Esch said. “Let’s get it going. It adds some excitement to the beginning of the season. You never know how the season is going to go, but right now, it’s a big game.”
Big wow for Wolke
Last season, Belle Plaine’s Kyle Wolke played tailback for the final two games, accumulating 172 yards on 23 carries, so it was no surprise that he was the leading rusher in the season-opening victory over Maple River. But how many times will he have 35 carries and 212 yards.
“I don’t know,” coach Justin Johnston said. “We’re a different team this season. We’re more of a running offense than passing offense so we’ll see.”
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Wolke scored one of the Tigers’ touchdowns. Johnston said speed is Wolke’s main asset; Wolke ran on the 4x100-meter relay team that finished fourth at the state meet last spring.
Belle Plaine plays at Le Sueur-Henderson Friday.
Games to watch
It doesn’t involve local teams, but tonight’s game between Rochester Century and Rochester Mayo will impact the Big Nine race. Century, Mankato West and Owatonna are the favorites in the Big Nine, and either West or Owatonna will be a game back after tonight. Century does not play West this season but does play Owatonna.
Also, Blue Earth Area plays at Waseca in a game that will clear the South Central Conference picture.
