MANKATO — Some losses sting worse than others.
For Mankato West football, losing to crosstown rival Mankato East stings mightier than most. The Scarlets fell to the Cougars 35-14 in the 2024 section semifinals. Then West fell to east 28-7 in the Kate Jug game in 2025, the first time West dropped that game to East in 20 years.
But that was then. And Thursday provides an opportunity for the Scarlets.
“It’s more than just the jug game,“ West head coach JJ Helget said. “For us, it’s continuing to build off of what we started the first two games. We beat two really good opponents. We have to keep working to get better, keep building off of what we have and make sure that we just come and execute and don’t have any letdowns.”
West is off to a 2-0 start in 2026. There was Week 1’s thrilling 31-28 win over Mahtomedi. Then came Week 2’s 38-14 road win over Owatonna, the same team that handed East a 37-29 loss in Week 1.
And while the Scarlets are beginning to fire on all cylinders, the engine of the offense runs through quarterback Osborne Lorenz. He’s off to a torrid start in his senior season.
He’s completed 30 of 44 passes for 383 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. On the ground he’s accumulated 326 yards and five touchdowns, including the game winner with under 40 seconds remaining against Mahtomedi.
“He’s a difference maker,” Helget said of Lorenz. “He’s been everything that we’ve asked him to be and more. We’re excited to see what he can do.”
But for Lorenz, 2026’s Jug Game provides him a redemption arc. The 2025 iteration is one he can’t forget.
He had his foot get rolled up while being tackled on one of West’s first possessions. At that point, according to Lorenz he felt something felt odd. Turns out, as he revealed, he tore a ligament but proceeded to keep playing.
Then on a third down play the Scarlets were called for a false start. And as the officials’ whistle blew and Lorenz dropped back, he felt a pop. At that point, as he revealed, came a fracture. He couldn’t put weight on his leg.
He was forced to watch the rest of the game, and the remainder of the 2025 regular season, from the sidelines. He was left helpless watching the Cougars claim the jug for the first time in his lifetime.
“It’s definitely something that kills you,” Lorenz said. “You want to help your team, especially when it’s a game where they’re struggling, you know. You want to do anything you can to help, but you can’t. It’s something that definitely hurts.”
Entering Thursday’s game he’ll be a full go. The Minnesota Duluth commit fully understands that winning the jug is not a given.
But how excited is he for Thursday?
“I don’t even know if you can put it into words,” Lorenz said. “Growing up as a kid in Mankato, that’s what everyone looks forward to doing. Getting hurt in it last year just kind of made me even more excited to come out and win it this year.”