The line of scrimmage can be where games are won and lost and the Albert Lea football team learned that Friday in a 35-6 loss to Owatonna in Owatonna.

The Huskies (2-1, 1-1 Big Nine) dominated the line of scrimmage and rolled up 292 yards on the ground as the Tiger defense logged a lot of minutes on the field.

“I think they just wore us out,” said Albert Lea head coach Clay Anderson. “Our defense was on the field for a long time.”

The Tigers (0-3, 0-2 Big Nine) had a chance early to tie the game at 7-7, but their first drive of the game ended in an interception in the red zone and they wouldn’t score again until the fourth quarter when Kyle Kriewall scampered in from 5 yards out.

Owatonna was led by quarterback Sheridan Skala, who rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another in the lopsided victory.

“It was kind of a slow, grinding affair,” Anderson said.

The Huskies took a 21-0 lead into halftime after Skala scored from 2 yards out with 8 seconds remaining in the half and the Tigers were never able to match their first drive of the game on offense.

Albert Lea totaled 199 yards on offense, half of which Anderson said came in the fourth quarter, compared to 370 for Owatonna.

Running back Luke Grossman was limited to 55 yards after gaining 104 last week against Winona and Kriewall was 4-for-9 with 82 yards and two interceptions.

“Our line did not hold very well against their blitzing linebackers,” Anderson said.

The Tigers will now get ready for Faribault Friday night in their homecoming game. The Falcons are 1-2 on the season, coming off a 33-6 loss to Mankato West Friday.

Owatonna 35, Albert Lea 6

Albert Lea 0 0 0 6 — 6

Owatonna 6 15 7 7 — 35

First Quarter

O—Wencl 9 run (kick failed) 6:32

Second Quarter

O—Skala 19 run (Wencl pass from Skala), 6:29.

O—Skala 2 run (Snorek kick), :08.

Third Quarter

O—Hedberg 16 pass from Skala (Snorek kick), 7:43.

O—Skala 34 run (Snorek kick), 11:16.

Fourth Quarter

AL—Kriewall 5 run (kick failed), 5:02.

AL O

First downs 12 20

Total net yards 199 367

Rushes-yards 29-117 49-292

Passing 82 76

Punt Returns NA NA

Kickoff Returns 5-68 NA

Interception Ret. NA NA

Comp-Att-Int 4-8-2 6-8-0

Sacked-Yards Lost 2 4

Punts 2-37.5 0-0

Fumbles-Lost 3-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 5-35 8-75

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Albert Lea, Grossman 14-55, Stolt 7-19, Kriewall 6-27, Hansen 3-16. Owatonna, Wencl 13-84, Kern 16-78, Ebeling 10-62, Skala 7-47, Gillis 2-16, Kyei 2-3, Rojelio Brockberg 1-0.

PASSING—Albert Lea, Kriewall 4-8-2-80. Owatonna, Skala 6-8-0-80.

RECEIVING—Albert Lea, Rasmussen 2-42, Grossman 2-38. Owatonna, Wencl 3-31, Hedberg 2-28, Vargason 1-21.