Column: Aaron Worm, Behind the Mic

A lot of storylines going into football this week.

The Interstate 90 matchup, Gophers’ homecoming and Vikings and Packers.

Good things happened for the Tigers, bad for the Gophers, and it wasn’t horrible for the Vikings, so we can’t call it ugly.

Let us start with The Good.

Albert Lea made a lot of big plays and took advantage of plenty of Austin mistakes in a 38-19 win on Wednesday. I know when it comes to football rivalries around the state, this is never seen as a big game outside of Freeborn or Mower counties, based on the fact the two schools haven’t battled for a conference title or went on a playoff run in recent memory, but since I have been covering the rivalry every game has been entertaining.

I covered the matchup as the voice of the Packers in 2002 and 2003 with Austin winning both games, and I have covered the last seven games on the other side with the Tigers going 6-1, winning the last six games.

On Wednesday, the game went back and forth in the first half, with Albert Lea up 18 to 13 at half. The Tigers scored two touchdowns on a short field in the second half to take control.

I get fooled a few times a game when teams run fakes, and I lose sight of the ball, but I was completely not ready for the fake punt that Dalton Westerlund ran in for 42 yards in the fourth quarter.

No matter what happens on Tuesday in Northfield, the Tiger seniors can say they never loss to Austin.

I do hope the “Harvest Bowl” which the game was called on Wednesday continues into the future. Having fans bring nonperishable items in for free admission, with the food being donated to the local foot shelve was a great idea. I hope this new tradition continues.

The Bad. I will be honest I didn’t watch any of the Gophers versus Nebraska game on Saturday. The final score of 41-14 was closer than I thought, but it’s too bad a close game after one quarter, 10-0, turned into a laugher with the Huskers scoring 24 in the second quarter to lead 34-0 at half.

It wasn’t as bad as losses at Michigan and Purdue, but it’s too bad there was such a lopsided quarter for the Gophers’ homecoming.

The Purple. I don’t think I have ever had so much satisfaction from a Viking loss.

I really thought this game could be ugly like the Gophers and Huskers game, but rookie Christian Ponder and the Vikings had a chance to win at the end, much more than I expected.

The numbers for Ponder were OK, 13 for 32 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions, plus four rushes for 31 yards.

A lot of inaccurate passes thrown and no real indication if Ponder is the long-term answer for the Vikings. But I think with Ponder, Vikings fans are intrigued once again with their team.

It’s not a fair comparison, but how about Aaron Rodgers. Three touchdown passes and a quarterback rating of over 146.

Rodgers is only 27, and I know we are tired of old quarterbacks coming to Minnesota, but if Rodgers wants to wear purple when he is 39 years old, I’d take him.