Tigers drop first game of the season
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Oct. 4—Albert Lea hosted St. Peter Friday night looking to make it six straight wins to open the season. After falling into a quick 20-0 deficit in the first quarter, the Tigers made a late comeback attempt. However, in the end, the Saints hung on to win a narrow 26-21 game.
St. Peter struck first when they marched their first drive down the field and punched the ball in with just over six minutes left to go in the first quarter. The score came on a short run by running back Ryan Molter.
After a couple nice plays by the Tigers, Albert Lea turned the ball over on their ensuing drive, losing a fumble and giving St. Peter favorable field position near the 35-yard line. The Saints capitalized on the good field position a few plays later with a leap into the endzone by Molter. A made PAT made the score 14-0 with just over a minute left to play in the opening quarter.
The Tigers were again bit by the turnover bug on their next drive, when a fumble popped right into the arms of a St. Peter defender who was able to return it all the way in for another touchdown. A blocked PAT by Sam McGill made the score 20-0 still in the first quarter.
Albert Lea buckled down in the second quarter and with 9:04 left in the half, Teaghan Tolbers connected with Carter Conn on a 25-yard pass that saw Conn wide open in the endzone.
St. Peter answered by marching down the field again to push the lead back to three scores. McGill again blocked the PAT to make the score 26-7 with 5:33 left in the half.
The Tigers punched back with a four minute drive that ended with a short rush into the endzone by Tolbers. A made PAT made the score 26-14 with 1:27 left in the first half, and stayed that way until the halftime break.
The defense showed up in the second half, but it was the Tigers who were first to score in the second half when they took their first drive punched in a 19-yard end around by Easton Schewe. A made PAT made the score 26-21 in favor of the Saints with 2:18 left in the third quarter.
A defensive stop by the Tigers forced a St. Peter punt; however, the Tigers fourth turnover of the game gave the ball right back to the Saints inside their red zone with eight minutes remaining in the game.
Yet another defensive stop gave the Tigers the ball back after they stuffed a fourth and short attempt by the Saints. However, a quick three and out ended with a punt from the Tigers from their own end zone.
Time was running out as the Saints took possession with 5:27 left in the game. The Tigers had a shot to get the ball back when the Saints were faced with a fourth and one play. St. Peter powered forward to get the yard and was able to then run out the clock to the end of the game.
The loss marks the first of the season for the Tigers and drops them to 5-1 on the season. They will face another tough test in their next game when they take on unbeaten Waseca Friday night.
