ALDEN – Alden-Conger football coach Gary Nelson went into Tuesday night’s section playoff game against Lyle/Austin Pacelli figuring to throw the ball about 25 times.

Wednesday, October 24, 2001

ALDEN – Alden-Conger football coach Gary Nelson went into Tuesday night’s section playoff game against Lyle/Austin Pacelli figuring to throw the ball about 25 times.

Twenty of them would come during pregame warmups.

The Knights amassed 486 rushing yards while pulling out a thrilling 38-36 victory at Alden.

It was the second win of the season for the Knights – both against Lyle/Pacelli – and advanced them to the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. at top-seeded Grand Meadow.

Alex Drescher had a grand game Tuesday, rushing for 221 yards on 29 carries. David Schmidt ran for 146 on 18 tries. Quarterback Trevor Schuster had 72 yards on 15 carries while completing three of five passes for 59 yards. David Enser and Schmidt caught the passes.

Schmidt and Drescher led the defense while Tyler Hintz played well at defensive back.

Hintz and Josh Wills had fourth-quarter interceptions to preserve the win after Schmidt scored early in the fourth quarter.

LP 14 6 8 8 – 36

AC 6 14 12 6 – 38

First Quarter

AC-Schuster 4 run (run failed)

LP-7 run (PAT pass successful)

LP-1 run (kick failed)

Second Quarter

AC-Schuster 15 run (Drescher run)

LP-39 pass (pass failed)

AC-Drescher 3 run (run failed)

Third Quarter

AC-Drescher 46 run (run failed)

LP-3 pass (PAT pass successful)

AC-Schuster 3 run (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

LP-23 pass (PAT pass successful)

AC-Schmidt 32 run (run failed)

LP AC

First downs 17 22

Rushing yards 135 486

Passing 18-22-2 3-5-0

Passing yards 257 59

Total yards 392 545

Turnovers 2 0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-AC, Drescher 29-221; Schmidt 18-146; Schuster 15-72; Hayes 9-47.

PASSING-AC, Schuster 3-5-0, 59.

RECEIVING-AC, Enser 1-44, Schmidt 2-15.