Albert Lea won the big showdown with Minnetonka in Minnesota's Boys HS league Wednesday night with a dramatic 28-19 comeback victory.

Minnetonka started much the stronger team, driving the Eagles back and scoring tree ties in the first 25 minutes to lead 19-0.

A Closer Look at Albert Lea

Albert Lea settled down a little after that, took a breath, and was able to put a try in at the corner as halftime loomed. Nathan Bain hit the difficult conversion to make it 19-7.

In the second half, the Eagles kept up the momentum they had found and put Minnetonka under considerable pressure. The key was support runners able to take offloads from ballcarriers or get into the tackle area and secure a recycle. Simple stuff, but important, and the forwards punched over two tries, both converted by Bain, and it was 21-19 Albert Lea.

Minnetonka rebounded and marched into Albert Lea territory and threatened to score to regain the lead. But some tenacious and patient defense from Albert Lea held them out, and then produced a turnover. The Eagles quickly turned the tables and scored, making it a two-score game, and Bain's conversion—he didn't miss all night—made it 28-19, which is how the game ended.

Tucker Eriksmoen scored two tries on the day and also impressed with his work in the breakdown and how he kept the Albert Lea phase play ticking over. Griffin Studier and Tim Sztajnkrycer also touched down as Albert Lea improved to 6-0. Minnetonka drops to 4-1, while Eagan sits at 5-0. Eagan plays St. Thomas Aquinas in a non-conference game that will have much to do with GRR's HS rankings. Minnetonka plays Eagan on May 27 and then Albert Lea and Eagan face off on June 4, a week before the playoffs.