AUSTIN &045; Normally, when Albert Lea and Austin High School teams clash, fans can count on plenty of intensity and a hard-fought battle.

They got one of the two Thursday night.

The Tigers, rated No. 7 in the state in Class AAA, did not take the shorthanded Packers lightly, pounding them 53-14 in a Big Nine dual meet at Austin.

&uot;Austin-Albert Lea is always a good match,&uot; said Tigers coach Larry Goodnature. &uot;They’re a little short on wrestlers this year, but they have some good kids and we went out and beat some of their better wrestlers.&uot;

The Tigers bettered their record to 6-1 in the Big Nine, 15-2 overall. The Packers fell to 2-7 in dual meets.

Starting at 145 pounds, the Tigers took a quick and easy 6-0 lead as the Packers forfeited to Brandon Klukow.

Dustin Eggum followed with a second-period fall at 152, making it 12-0.

The Tigers’ Jared Butler was in a hard-fought 2-1 battle at 160 when he was caught in a headlock and pinned in the second period. Derek Goodnature lost 16-7 at 171, pulling Austin within 12-0.

Albert Lea won the next seven bouts.

Freshman Mike Honeycutt started the run with a 4-1 decision at 189. Randy Larson scored a first-period fall at 215, heavyweight Chris Hable won 4-1, Zach Hansen won 11-4 and Josh Hansen received a forfeit.

Alex Hansen put on a takedown clinic at 119, registering 10 of them in a 20-9 major decision. A forfeit to Taylor Ignaszewski put Albert Lea on top 43-10.

Neal Underdahl lost a 19-8 major decision to T.J. Parlin at 130. Parlin, who is nearing the state record for career takedowns, had nine against Underdahl. Parlin has twice placed third in the state tournament and was also a state runner-up.

The Tigers’ Adam Elseth, third in last year’s state tournament, took down his opponent eight times before pinning him in the second period at 135.

Adam Morreim wrapped it up with a 10-2 major decision at 140.

&uot;Overall, we wrestled well,&uot; said Coach Goodnature. &uot;Going in, we were probably favored to win, but sometimes when you’re favored you don’t get yourself as fired up as much as you would like, but the guys wrestled like they’re seventh in the state. They were very aggressive and did a nice job.&uot;

The Tigers wrestle Saturday in the Hayfield Invitational.