So far this season, it hasn’t looked like the Faribault Falcons are what they used to be.

Thursday, September 20, 2001

So far this season, it hasn’t looked like the Faribault Falcons are what they used to be.

The Albert Lea Tigers have been taking steps to get where they want to be.

To this point, they look like football teams heading in opposite directions. The Tigers have an opportunity to prove that point when the teams collide at Faribault Friday night.

By any means, it could be a pivotal game for the Tigers, 0-3 this season and riding a 22-game losing skid. The Falcons, usually among the top half in the Big Nine, are 1-2 coming off a 14-7 victory over winless Rochester Century.

The Tigers have had sporadic success while facing three of the teams near the top of the conference – Rochester John Marshall, Mankato West and Owatonna – but they’ve yet to click both offensively and defensively in the same game or sustain the momentum for more than a quarter.

This week, with a minimum of mistakes and consistent execution of the game plan, first-year head coach Jeff Marty and the Tigers are hopeful of putting a stop to the streak.

&uot;We’re really trying to do everything we can to put ourselves in position to get a victory here,&uot; said Marty.

From watching game films, Marty feels the Tigers match up better with the Falcons than their previous opponents.

&uot;We’re hoping we can run with them,&uot; said Marty. &uot;We want to do some real positive things, build some confidence for the guys. We want to go up there, be ready to play, and be very competitive.&uot;

A boost for the Tigers is the return of senior co-captain Jake Jerdee, who missed last week’s game with an injury.

Another change in the lineup is Tony Tolbers replacing Derek Goodnature as the starting quarterback. Goodnature will serve as backup but is also expected to see playing time at tight end.

The Tigers’ team award winners for the JM game were Anton Grove, Lineman of the Week; Mike Carr, Special Teams Player of the Week; and Roberto Babastro, &uot;Big Dog&uot; Hit.

Game time at Faribault Friday is 7 p.m.

The Tigers aren’t the only area team on the road this week. United South Central is at Blooming Prairie, NRHEG at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, Glenville-Emmons at Lyle/Austin Pacelli and Lake Mills at Turkey Valley. Alden-Conger hosts LeRoy-Ostrander while Northwood-Kensett entertains Rockwell-Swaledale.