The Albert Lea football team scored first, but Faribault scored 26 unanswered points in the first half to build a lead it would not relinquish Friday in a 48-29 Falcons win.

The Tigers defense provided an early boost with an interception by Jakob Kilby.

“Jakob had a great game at corner,” said Albert Lea head coach Max Jeffrey. “He played very well for his first game at the position.”

Six plays later, Albert Lea took a 7-0 lead with a touchdown run by Triston Westerlund, Jeffrey said.

The Falcons responded by scoring three touchdowns to take a 20-7 lead. Albert Lea had the ball with less than four minutes until halftime, when a drive stalled in their own territory, but coach Jeffrey had a trick up his sleeve on special teams that could’ve given the Tigers some momentum headed into the locker room.

“We got the ball back and made a first down, but later we were forced to punt,” he said. “I called for a fake, but it didn’t work, and I take full responsibility for that. I need to put our team in a position where we can be successful.”

Faribault took over on downs and punched the ball across the goal line to take a 26-7 lead into the half.

Albert Lea clawed back into the game with an eight-play drive capped with a pass from Drew Cole to Cody Scherff. The two-point conversion was successful, and the Tigers trailed 26-15. The duo hooked up again in the third quarter with a 62-yard touchdown. However, the Tigers were unable to recapture the lead.

Cole finished with 165 yards and two touchdowns through the air on eight completions.

Defensively, Tim Christianson led Albert Lea in tackles.

The Tigers made six personal fouls, which was disappointing and uncharacteristic, Jeffrey said.

Albert Lea is 0-3 overall with a 64-14 loss at Mankato West in the season opener and a 35-6 loss against Rochester John Marshall in the home opener.

Next, the Tigers will host Mankato East at 7 p.m., Friday.

Mankato East is also 0-3. The Cougars lost 42-19 at Rochester Century, 41-6 against Faribault and 57-6 against Rochester Mayo.