Faribault Football Rolls in Season Opener

Faribault Falcons senior quarterback Hunter Nelson threw 5 touchdown passes in the first half tonight in a 50-12 domination over the Albert Lea Tigers at Bruce Smith Field.

The night started with a tribute to former school board member and community volunteer Bruce Krinkie who passed away Wednesday at age 78.

At halftime with the score in favor of the Falcons 50-0, there was a dedication of the new video scoreboard on the west end of the field.

Faribault scored 5 touchdowns in the first quarter.  Albert Lea won the toss and elected to defer giving the Falcons the ball to start the game.  Faribault got incredible blocking upfront and from their receivers to spring Matthias Lenway for a 33 yard touchdown with 10:01 to go in the first quarter.  Nelson hit Elijah Hammonds on a pass for a two point coversion.

After stuffing the Tigers Nelson threw a 42 yard touchdown pass to Lenway with 6:20 to go.  Hammonds ran in the two poinit conversion.

Following a Ian Ehlers interception for the Falcons Nelson threw a quick pass to Jordan Klecker who darted up the field 72 yards for a score with 5:50 to in the first quarter.  Edwardo Solis kicked the extra point to make the score Faribault 23 Albert Lea 0.

Following a fumble recovery by Tim Neirby, Elijah Hammonds sped 23 yards for a touchdown with 4:03 to go .  The extra point kick was good by Edwardo Solis.

The Cashwise Foods of Owatonna Delivery of the Game came with 1:46 to go in the first quarter when Nelson dropped back and hit Isaac Mata in stride for a 48 yard score.

At the end of the first quarter the score was 36-0 in favor of the Falcons.

Nelson was not finished.  With 3:28 to go until the Hometown Credit Union of Faribault halftime report, Nelson connected with AJ Worrell on a 14 yard score.  Solis kicked the extra point.

With 1:34 to go in the first half Nelson connected With Worrell again on a pass from 31 yards out.  Solis made the extra point.

It was 50-0 at the half.

Albert Lea scored on a 46 yard pass with 18 seconds to go in the third quarter and with 9:43 to go in the game their final score came on a pass covering 48 yards.

There were delays twice in the game when the sprinklers came on.  That was about the only thing that didn't work for the Falcons.

Final statistics showed Faribault with 521 yards in total offense and Albert Lea 200 yards.

The Falcons had 250 yards passing while the Tigers tallied 151 yards.

Albert Lea had 49 yards rushing on 30 attempts.  Faribault finished with 271 yards on the ground in 38 runs.

The Malecha's Auto Body of Faribault Crunch Time Faribault Players of the Game were Tim Neirby on defense and Hunter Nelson on Offense.

Neirby led the team with 5 solo tackles, 2 sacks in a half of play.

Nelson was 10 of 14 passing for 250 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Faribault travels to Byron next Friday, September 10, 2021 for a 7:00 p.m. game.

Albert Lea has their home opener against Stewartville Friday, September 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

In other high school football games from the area Friday night:

• Northfield 21  Austin 20
• Winona Cotter 34  Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons  16
• Mahtomedi 37  Apple Valley 7
• Blooming Prairie 57  Hayfield 6
• Kasson-Mantorville 31  Byron 21
• Lake City 30  Caledonia 13
• Cannon Falls 21  St. Charles 6
• Fillmore Central 53  Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 13
• Lanesboro 28  Grand Meadow  0
• New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 28  Kenyon-Wanamingo 14
• Stewartville 47  Mankato East 20
• Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop  32  Mayer Lutheran 27
• Rushford-Peterson 24  Medford  6
• New Prague 28  Rochester Century 6
• Tri-City United 40  New Ulm  0
• Rochester Mayo 58  Owatonna  31
• Spring Grove 14  Houston  0
• St.Clair/Loyola 31  United South Central 20
• Waseca 21  St. Peter 13
• Triton 23  Rochester Lourdes 8
• Winona 31  Red Wing  6
• Randolph 44 Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 0

How would you rank these?

Is Faribault a lake town? There are 10 lakes within 10 miles.