It was perhaps the best football game of the season for the Albert Lea Tigers.

Wednesday, October 27, 1999

It was perhaps the best football game of the season for the Albert Lea Tigers.

It just happened to come against one of their best opponents.

Farmington, seeded third in the Class 3A, Section 1 tournament, ended the season for the sixth-seeded Tigers Tuesday night with a 34-3 decision.

For the Tigers, it was their best offensive output since the season opener at Faribault and the first time they scored since week two against Owatonna.

Albert Lea totaled 170 yards and rushed for 153, getting a 100-yard rushing performance for the first time all year as senior Bryce Williams ran for 123 yards on 23 carries. Both teams had 10 first downs.

Farmington, though, proved too much to handle offensively.

The home team amassed 398 yards, 308 of them rushing.

The Tigers – as they did much of the season – hurt themselves with some early mistakes, allowing a sack on their first play and punting on their fourth.

Farmington took over on Albert Lea’s 46-yard line and needed only three plays to score, taking a 7-0 lead.

Farmington scored on its next three possessions – drives of 40 and 62 yards and a 51-yard run – to take a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Tigers broke their scoring drought with a 30-yard field goal by Paul Olsen, finishing off a 61-yard, nine-play drive.

Farmington, driving again late in the first half, was tripped up by a holding penalty inside the Albert Lea 10 and ran out of time. It was 28-3 at halftime.

After Farmington took a 34-3 lead in the third quarter, the Tigers drove deep into Farmington territory before stalling on fourth and goal from the 3.

The loss ended the Tigers’ season at 0-9. Farmington, 5-4, advanced to Saturday’s semifinal round at second-seeded Red Wing.