The Albert Lea football team opens its home season Friday night hosting Rochester Mayo at the new Hammer Complex on Jim Gustafson Field.

The highly anticipated matchup brings the unbeaten Spartans to take on the one-loss Tigers. According to Albert Lea head coach Corey Black, the Spartans are a dynamic team and keeping them in check will be a major key to the game for the Tigers.

“Mayo is a team that is very explosive,” Black said. “If we can limit the big plays, we will be in the ball game. If we limit the turnovers and penalties this week we will be in a good position.”

The Tigers rushing game will come into effect Friday night, according to Black. He said when Albert Lea’s run game is effective, the team is able to be competitive with any team it sees.

Although just two weeks into the regular season, Black said he has seen improvements in every aspect of the game since the start of the season, especially on defense.

“We have found the way we like to play the game,” Black said. “Our defense has been great and has shown that they can execute the gameplan that we create for them. Assignment-wise we executed at a higher rate in week two, which is a great feeling because we will only improve from here.”

The high productivity led to a week two win against Red Wing. Last year, the Tigers’ first win came in the final week of the regular season. The early season win gives the Tigers a boost of momentum as they continue through the season

“Getting a win early in the season allows us to increase our confidence in what we do and increases our trust in the process,” Black said. “It increases the joy in practice and definitely motivates us to keep improving.”

 

Tigers starting lineup

OFFENSE

Logan Howe, QB

J.J. Mucha-Owens, RB

Cole Janssen, RB

Ishmael Cabezas, RB

Chase Hill, WR

Janyjor Ruei, WR

Hector Guerrero, WR

Trevor Ball, OL

Hayden Johnston, OL

Weston Dahl, OL

Brody Dauer, OL

 

DEFENSE

Hayden Johnston, DL

Brody Dauer, DL

Trevor Ball, DL

Chase Hill, LB

Ismael Cabezas, LB

Tucker Eriksmoen, LB

Cameron Davis, LB

Hector Guerrero, DB

JJ Mucha-Owens, DB

Cody Yokiel, DB

Janyjor Ruei, DB

 

If you go:

Who: Rochester Mayo (2-0)
at Albert Lea (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Jim Gustafson Field

Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for students or seniors; Albert Lea students get in free