Mankato West, the No. 4-ranked team in Class 4A, showed how it got that ranking Friday against Albert Lea at Hammer Field in a 47-12 win over the Tigers.

The Scarlets scored less than a minute into the game when Paul Berndt scampered in from 6 yards out — that was just the beginning.

Mike Richter, a 6-foot-4, 186 pound wide receiver, caught a pair of touchdown passes before the quarter was over and Mankato West added 20 more points in the second quarter.

The Scarlets (3-0, 2-0) played without starting quarterback Ray Teachout, who was out with an ankle injury, and freshman Philip Nelson stepped in and stepped up. Nelson completed 12 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns.

“You would never know he was a freshman,” Albert Lea linebacker Jordan Holland said. “He looked like he could be a junior in the Big Nine. He’s composed, he presented himself and he did a great job out there.”

Mankato West came at the Tigers at all angles. When Nelson wasn’t finding one of the seven wideouts listed as 6-feet or taller, it was Berndt running to the end zone. Berndt had three touchdowns in the game for West.

“That’s the best team we’ll play this year,” Holland said. “They have a lot of athletes out there.”

Partly out of necessity Albert Lea (1-2, 0-2) aired the ball out more and found some success. Tigers quarterback Cody Hansen connected with Matt Tiegs on a 73-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and later found Trevor Rasmussen for a 27-yard strike that set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Luke Grossman.

“We threw some nice balls,” Albert Lea head coach Clay Anderson said. “We moved the ball at times.”

Hansen finished the game 4 of 14 for 141 yards and said he’s beginning to feel more comfortable as the starter.

“Our line held up really well and gave me time to pass the ball,” Hansen said. “I feel more calm now and more patient in the pocket.”

Next up for the Tigers is Mankato East, a team reeling from a pair of blowout losses. Two weeks ago West beat East 40-10 and Friday Owatonna rolled on the Cougars 56-7.

Mankato West 47, Albert Lea 12

Mankato West – 20 20 7 0 – 47

Albert Lea – 0 6 0 6 – 12

First quarter

Mankato West – Paul Berndt 6 run (Adam Athey kick)

Mankato West – Mike Richter 21 pass from Phillip Nelson (kick failed)

Mankato West – Mike Richter 31 pass from Nelson (Athey kick)

Second quarter

Mankato West – Berndt 8 run (Athey kick)

Albert Lea – Matt Tiegs 73 pass from Cody Hansen (kick failed)

Mankato West – Aaron Richter 18 pass from Nelson (Athey kick)

Mankato West – Berndt 2 run (kick failed)

Third quarter

Mankato West – Jacob Cattrysse 39 pass from Nelson (Athey kick)

Fourth quarter

Albert Lea – Luke Grossman 10 run (conversion failed)