This time it got a little out of hand.

After playing teams close for several weeks, the Albert Lea Tigers allowed too many big plays in the second half and lost their homecoming football game 46-6 to Mankato East at Hammer Field Friday night.

“We knew they had big-play capability, and we knew we had to contend with that,” said Tigers head coach Jeff Marty. “But the biggest thing is we just started to lose confidence. It’s the only time that’s happened all season. When we started losing confidence, they started making the big plays. We were not mentally able to overcome our mistakes tonight, and in the past we have.”

The Tigers started strong, holding the Cougars to a three-and-out after punting on their opening possession.

They then drove 63 yards in nine plays, capped with a 2-yard touchdown run by Brandon Klukow. Ross Habben’s PAT kick was blocked, and Albert Lea led 6-0 with 4:29 left in the opening quarter.

East drove quickly into Albert Lea territory before fumbling on the 2-yard line, where Jake Christianson recovered for the Tigers. Three plays later they were in punt formation, with Travis

Klatt in the back of the end zone, and his punt was blocked. It want out of bounds in the end zone, giving East a safety.

The Cougars again struck quickly, this time reaching the end zone on a 16-yard pass. The PAT kick made it 9-6 with 10:36 left in the second quarter.

The Tigers answered with a drive of their own, but it stalled on fourth down on the East 25.

It took only four plays for the Cougars to score, the final 48 coming on a pass, and it was 16-6 at halftime.

The Tigers caught a break in the third quarter when Adam Lohse recovered a fumble on the Albert Lea 17 but, two plays later, an apparent incompletion was ruled a lateral, and East picked up the ball and took it 7 yards for a touchdown and a 22-6 lead.

The Tigers never recovered.

East went on to add a touchdown and a field goal in the third quarter and the Cougar reserves scored twice in the fourth.

The Cougars outgained the Tigers 365-123, including 184-103 rushing.

Habben led the Tigers with 42 yards on 14 carries. Klukow ran 13 times for 39 yards. Steve Thorn and Zach Marty completed one pass each, both to Habben for a total of 20 yards.

East improved its record to 4-2 while the Tigers fell to 1-5. Albert Lea travels to arch-rival Austin this Friday.