ALDEN – Many football teams have been able to get the Alden-Conger Knights down this season.

Tuesday, November 02, 1999

ALDEN – Many football teams have been able to get the Alden-Conger Knights down this season.

Keeping them there has been the problem.

The Knights, who have come from behind to win several times this fall, did it again Saturday in an exciting 26-20 victory over Grand Meadow in a nine-man section semifinal game at Alden.

&uot;Like all season, our kids showed poise in a close game,&uot; said Knights coach Gary Nelson. &uot;Nothing seems to get them down.&uot;

The Knights had the SuperLarks down early as Sam Guanella returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

Grand Meadow answered, taking a 7-6 lead on a 47-yard touchdown run by the quarterback and making it 14-6 with a 27-yard scoring run.

The Knights pulled within 14-12 at halftime, driving 52 yards in seven plays capped by a 6-yard pass from Vinnie VanEnglenburg to Derek Thorson.

Another big play by Guanella put the Knights back on top in the third quarter. This time, the senior speedster took a handoff and raced 78 yards up the sideline on the Knights’ first play from scrimmage. Again the PAT failed and it was 18-14.

The SuperLarks responded with an 80-yard drive to make it 20-18.

VanEnglenburg hit Thorson with a 2-yard touchdown pass on what turned out to be the game-winning score. Guanella caught a pass for the conversion.

The Knights ran for 188 yards and passed for 105 as Guanella went 9-for-15 with no interceptions.

Guanella totaled 171 yards rushing on 19 carries.

Grand Meadow ran for 234 yards and threw for 38.

Thorson and Greg Ladwig had interceptions on defense while Alex Drescher recovered a fumble. Tim Bruns and Ladwig led the Knights in tackles.

&uot;Guanella ran the ball extremely well, and VanEnglenburg came back from an injury and held together,&uot; said Nelson.

The Knights, 7-2, advanced to the section championship game Saturday at 1:30 at LeRoy-Ostrander.