A second half comeback wasn’t enough to break the Grizzlies’ losing streak.

The Albert Lea football team stumbled in the first half before scoring the majority of their points in the second half of Saturday’s 27-16 loss to the Tri-State Buffalos at Grizzly Field in Frank Hall Park. The game was the team’s fourth straight loss.

“It’s obviously disappointing,” said Grizzlies coach Stephen Piper. “A loss was not what we were looking for.”

Grizzlies defensive coordinator Jeff Jimenez said that the team broke down at least once in all three areas — special teams, offense and defense.

“It’s not that we’re playing bad,” said Jimenez. “We’re just not taking advantage of the opportunities we have.”

According to Piper, Jason Kuipers was an offensive force for Albert Lea. Kuipers scored two touchdowns in the Grizzlies’ rallying second half.

“At wide receiver he was great,” said Piper. “He knows how to get open and knows how to catch a ball.”

Quarterback Cameron Batton was also a standout Saturday, with Piper saying Batton played a good game and made some nice runs.

Piper said that despite the team’s struggles in their last four losses, he believed that the Grizzlies’ offense finally found its footing in the second half, and he hopes that momentum will continue into the team’s next game.

“The second half finally came together,” he said. “We finally found what’s going to work for us. It’s a really good thing.”

Jimenez also said that he hopes to see some positive changes from the team.

“They play hard,” he said. “Any time they take the field, I’m proud of the way they perform.”

Next, the Grizzlies, 1-4, will play the South Central Hawgs at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Statistics were unavailable for the Grizzlies as of press time.