Looking for positives from Albert Lea’s 47-0 homecoming football loss to Rochester Mayo Friday night?&t;!—-&t;.

Sunday, September 30, 2001

Looking for positives from Albert Lea’s 47-0 homecoming football loss to Rochester Mayo Friday night?

Coach Jeff Marty found 166 of them.

That’s how many yards the Tigers’ offense generated against a Spartan team that held Winona to 46 yards and hasn’t lost since the season opener against unbeaten Mankato East.

&uot;We seemed to be able to at least amass a little offense,&uot; said Marty, whose team fell to 0-5. &uot;On the down side, I guess, we just really didn’t stop them all night offensively.&uot;

Josh Fulton and A.J. Bouquet did the most damage. Fulton, playing only in the first half, ran for 100 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns while Bouquet completed 10 of 13 passes for 159 yards and three scores. The Spartans totaled 464 yards.

The Tigers hurt themselves by twice fumbling after gaining a first down. But they moved the ball fairly well at times, running for 93 yards and passing for 73 as quarterback Tony Tolbers completed seven of 21 passes with one interception.

Roberto Babastro had the most success on the ground, with 43 carries. Jason Kuipers, nursing a minor injury, had 30 yards on 13 attempts.

Marty was also pleased with the pass catching of Jake McClaskey and Tyler Young and the play of Adam Lares, who led the defense and also moved from guard to center on offense with starter Dan Wirtjes was injured early in the game.

Marty said he feels good about the Tigers’ attitude despite their record and their progress after a 16-6 loss at Faribault a week earlier.

&uot;We had a good week last week, and we were able to come up with another strong offensive effort against a good Mayo team,&uot; said Marty. &uot;That’s good to see. The kids should come away from this and say, ‘Yeah, we can move the ball against a decent team.’&uot;

RM 21 20 6 0 – 47

AL 0 0 0 0 – 0

First Quarter

RM-Fulton 4 run (Morgan kick)

RM-Buzard 20 pass from Bouquet (Morgan kick)

RM-Fulton 20 pass from Bouquet (Morgan kick)

Second Quarter

RM-Fulton 15 run (Morgan kick)

RM-Lawler 5 run (kick failed)

RM-Morgan 38 pass from Bouquet (Morgan kick)

Third Quarter

RM-Miller 11 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

No scoring

RM AL

First downs 17 7

Rushing yards 305 93

Passing yards 159 73

Total yards 464 166

Turnovers 1 3

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-AL, Babastro 9-43, Kuipers 13-30, Tolbers 3-18, Carr 2-3; RM, Fulton 12-100

PASSING-AL, Tolbers 7-22-1, 73; RM, Bouquet 10-13-0, 159

RECEIVING-AL, McClaskey 4-37, Young 2-22, Skophammer 1-14