Turnovers cost the Albert Lea football team Friday night in a 41-14 loss to Faribault in Faribault.

The Tigers (1-5, 1-4) committed six turnovers and were held scoreless in the second half against the Falcons.

Albert Lea had a rough time trying to halt the Faribault (4-2, 3-2) running game as the Falcons racked up 305 yards on the ground.

“We just couldn’t stop their running game,” Tigers head coach Clay Anderson said. “They were a little bit bigger than us a lot stronger.”

Faribault running back Alek Johnson had a big night running the ball as he scored three times in the game. Falcons quarterback Colin Anderson added two touchdown passes in the game and the offense totaled 408 yards on the night. Anderson connected with Adam Hallet on the first drive of the game from 22 yards out to give Faribault an quick lead.

The Albert Lea defense had a difficult time with the Faribault offensive line as the Falcons moved Tiger lineman off the line of scrimmage with ease.

Albert Lea had its chances inside the Faribault red zone, though. The Tigers had four drives stall in the red zone. The offense was denied twice from the one-yard line, threw two interceptions and fumbled on the two-yard line.

Anderson said his offense played better than it did last week when it was shutout and had four passes intercepted.

Against the Falcons, Tigers quarterback Cody Hansen completed 8-of-21 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown, but had three interceptions. Albert Lea did move the ball well to get into the red zone as Hansen completed passing plays of 31 yards twice and one of 41 yards in the fourth quarter alone. The Tigers had 350 yards of total offense in the game.

Albert Lea closed the game to within a touchdown early in the second quarter after Matt Tiegs scored his second touchdown of the game on a 49-yard pass play from Hansen, but Faribault stormed back for two touchdowns before the quarter was over.

The Tigers return home to face Century next Friday. The Panthers lost to John Marshall Friday and are 1-5 on the season.

Faribault 41, AL 14

Faribault – 21 14 6 0 – 41

AL – 0 14 0 0 – 14

First Quarter

Faribault – Adam Hallet 22 pass from Colin Anderson (kick good)

Faribault – Alek Johnson 5 run (kick good)

Faribault – Johnson 5 run (kick good)

Second Quarter

AL – Tiegs 14 run (Tiegs kick)

AL – Tiegs 49 pass (Tiegs kick)

Faribault – Hallet 2 run (kick good)

Faribault – Adam Jensen 27 pass from Colin Anderson (kick good)

Third Quarter

Faribault – Johnson 2 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

No scoring