After winning a regular season game for the first time in two years and winning a section game for the first time since 2012, the Albert Lea football team saw its season come to an end Saturday night in Winona, losing 42-14.

The Tigers had a tough time getting their offense flowing in the first half, as they were unable to move the ball past the 50-yard line and picking up only two first downs. They had their hands full with one of the best ball carriers in the state in Trevor Pomeroy, who rushed for 268 yards and four touchdowns against the Tigers.

The Tigers scored two times late in the second half, but the Winhawks had built too much of a lead for them to have any hope of a late comeback.

Albert Lea will lose 12 seniors as it prepares for the next season, including Carter Simon, Spencer Doyle, Cole Wentzel, Dylan Scherff, Dane Brownlow, Brady Nielsen, Isaac Moyer, Mason Paczkowski, Connor Barney, Ian Ball, Joseph Witham and Cristian Garcia, all of whom played a big role on the team.

However, with key playmakers like JJ Mucha Owens, Logan Howe, Koby Hendrickson, Braden Kraft, Hayden Johnston, Gavyn Tlamka and Brody Dauer all set to return, the future of the program is heading in the right direction.