The Albert Lea ninth-grade football team opened its home schedule Monday with a 50-40 loss to Owatonna at Hammer Field.

The Tigers took an early 16-0 first-quarter lead with Triston Westerlund and Tim Christianson scoring for the Tigers. Westerlund and Tyler Steele scored the two-point conversions.

Owatonna responded in the second quarter with 36 unanswered points aided by three Tigers turnovers. A botched punt by the Tigers put the Huskies on the Tiger three-yard line two plays later and the score was Owatonna 36-16 heading into halftime.

The 3rd quarter started with a 70-yard Tiger scoring drive with Westerlund hitting the endzone.

“The defense made some adjustments at half,” Tigers coach Kane Malo said. They responded and held them to 14 second-half points.”