Throughout most of the first half, it looked like the Albert Lea Tigers had a chance to win their homecoming football game.

The outlook changed in a span of less than six minutes.

Faribault scored 22 points in the final 5:35 of the second quarter, taking a 36-7 halftime lead en route to a 50-7 decision at Hammer Field Friday night.

The Falcons improved to 4-0 while the Tigers’ record dropped to 0-4.

Despite the loss, Albert Lea head coach Jeff Marty said he saw some definite positives.

&uot;We got great protection from our offensive line tonight,&uot; said Marty. &uot;We just didn’t connect on some of our passes. If we had, it could have been an entirely different ballgame. We just need to have some success early. When we fall behind early, it’s almost like the guys lose faith in themselves.&uot;

Though the Tigers kept it close in the opening half, they fell behind early after punting on the game’s opening possession as Faribault answered with a six-play, 40-yard scoring drive.

It remained 6-0 until 9:04 left in the second quarter, when the Falcons went 59 yards in 10 plays.

The Tigers responded with Jason Kuipers. On the fourth play of their next drive, Kuipers took a pitch and cut back, eluding tacklers while bursting up the middle 49 yards for a touchdown. Ross Habben’s PAT kick cut it to 14-7.

After holding the Falcons on three plays, the Tigers fumbled on their second snap and Faribault recovered, scoring two plays after that.

An interception gave the ball back to the Falcons, who then drove 76 yards in nine plays for a 28-7 lead with 1:56 left until halftime.

Starting at their own 31, the Tigers picked up three quick first downs before losing the ball again with a fumble. This time Faribault needed three plays to cover 51 yards.

Steve Thorn intercepted a pass to stop Faribault’s opening second-half drive but, after picking up a first down, the Tigers were forced to punt.

The Falcons scored on a pair of big plays in the third quarter, a 49-yard punt return and an 85-yard run by Nick Rost.

The Tigers were outgained 460-189 in total yards.

Faribault rushed for 422 yards to the Tigers’ 142.

Kuipers ran for 100 yards on 12 carries. Quarterback Tony Tolbers was 5-for-17 for 38 yards and no interceptions; he also ran 10 times for 12 yards. Jake McClaskey and Thorn caught three passes apiece.

&uot;We had chances,&uot; said Marty. &uot;If we’d have gotten them, I think we would have been a whole lot better off mentally. The guys need to get some confidence in themselves, believe in themselves and in each other. We need to get to that point.&uot;

The Tigers face another unbeaten team this Friday, when they travel to Rochester Mayo.

FAR &045;

6

30

14

0

&045;

50

AL &045;

0

7

0

0

&045;

7

First Quarter

FAR &045; Sunde 1 run (kick failed)

Second Quarter

FAR &045; Sunde 2 run (Sunde run)

AL &045; Kuipers 49 run (Habben kick)

FAR &045; Sunde 32 run (pass failed)

FAR &045; Ressier 1 run (Ressier run)

FAR &045; Rost 32 pass from Cross (Stoackel pass from Cross)

Third Quarter

FAR &045; Rost 49 punt return (Hruska kick)

FAR &045; Rost 85 run (Hruska kick)

Fourth Quarter

No scoring

FAR, AL

Rushing yards: 422, 142

Passing yards: 38, 47

Total yards: 460, 189

Turnovers: 3, 3

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING&045;AL, Kuipers 12-104; Tolbers 10-12; Goodnature 4-30; Truesdell 1-0; Stolaas 1-0; FAR, Ressier 28-208.

PASSING&045;AL, Tolbers 5-17-1, 38; Goodnature 1-6-0, 9; Kuipers 0-1-0, 0.

RECEIVING&045;AL, McClaskey 3-31; Thorn 3-16.