Diaz field goal came after Albert Lea had blocked an Isaiah Friese 21-yard field goal just over a minute earlier.

Owen Castleman and Zach Hubbard scored the touchdowns for New Um on a 1-yard run and a 13-yard run, respectively.

The Eagles, who play at Belle Plaine next Friday, had a chance to win the game late when they took over at their own 30-yard line with 4:57 left.

A 29-yard run from Jamison Portner and a 40 yard pass from Castleman to Jeff Kral moved the ball to the Tigers’ 9-yard line.

Photo by Brady Dennis New Ulm’s Zach Hubbard carries the ball after an interception during a Southeast Central District, Red Subdistrict football game against Albert Lea at New Ulm High School on Friday.

“Owen made a really nice throw to get us down [to the 9-yard line],” New Ulm coach Derek Lieser said. “We ran a really well-designed play on second down — we got our tight end open but the pass slipped just off of his fingers. On third down we gave a jump ball to our best player. On fourth down we felt that kicking it was our best option.”

The Tigers then took over and marched down the field to set up the game-winning kick.

“In high school football you do not see a 40-yard field goal,” Lieser said.

Lieser also said the first half featured too many mistakes.

“We had a few too many mistakes in the first half,” Lieser said as New Ulm had two turnovers in the second quarter — one coming when they fumbled the ball going in for a touchdown. “They made a few more plays at the end of the game.”

New Ulm had started out the game like they were going to run the Tigers out.

Hubbard returned the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Albert Lea 35-yard line.

The drive ended when Castleman broke in from a yard out for a 6-0 lead after a missed PAT.

Albert Lea took a 7-6 lead when Carter Conn bounced in from a yard out. Diaz’s extra point had the Tigers up early in the second quarter.

That score held into the third quarter when Charles Irvine scored on a 1-yard run with 9:51 left in the third quarter for a 14-6 lead.

Hubbard’s 13-yard run late in the third quarter pulled the Eagles to within 14-12 and a 2-point conversion pass from Castleman to Jeff Kral tied the game.

“I thought that the second half was a really evenly-played game,” Lieser said. “I am disappointed for our kids, but not in them.”