ALDEN &045; A week earlier, victory seemed well out of reach for the Alden-Conger Knights.

This time they were one play away.

The Knights gave up a touchdown on a fumble return late in the game and came up just short as the horn sounded, falling 12-7 in a Southern Confederacy Conference football game at Alden Friday night.

The other nine-man team in the area did not fare as well. Glenville-Emmons hosted LeRoy-Ostrander, rated No. 1 in the state, and lost 55-6.

Elsewhere in the area, United South Central improved to 2-0 with 24-6 victory at Maple River and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva evened its record at 1-1 with a 7-6 triumph at Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop.

At Alden, Knights coach Gary Nelson was pleased with his team’s effort after a disappointing season-opening loss.

&uot;We played the whole game, we outrushed and outpassed Cleveland,&uot; said Nelson. &uot;We just came up one play short.&uot;

The Knights led almost the entire game, getting on the board in the first quarter on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Scott Martinson to David Lein. David Wittmer kicked the PAT.

Cleveland pulled within 7-6 with a 43-yard scoring pass in the second period.

It remained that way until 1:06 left to play, when the Clippers scooped up a fumble and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.

The Knights were not finished though. Sophomore quarterback Scott Martinson led them from their own 30-yard line to the Cleveland 15 in three plays. A pass fell incomplete in the end zone as the game ended.

Martinson completed 11 of 21 passes for 177 yards. Josh Wills caught six or 108 yards, Lee Haines three for 31. Will Petersen ran for 88 yards on 17 carries.

Wills led the defense, snaring three interceptions.

&uot;Wills played an outstanding game,&uot; said Nelson.

CLE

0

6

0

6

&045; 12

AC

7

0

0

0

&045;

7

First Quarter

A-C&045;Lein 7 pass from Martinson (Wittmer kick)

Second Quarter

CLE&045;43 pass (PAT failed)

Third Quarter

No scoring

Fourth Quarter

CLE&045;60 fumble return (PAT failed)

CLE, AC

Rushing yards: 102, 163

Passing yards: 174, 177

Total yards: 267, 340

Penalties-Yds.: 5-30, 6-35

Turnovers: 3, 7

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING&045;AC, Petersen 17-88.

PASSING&045;AC, Martinson 11-21-2, 177.

RECEIVING&045;AC, Wills 6-80, Haines 3-31, Petersen 1-21, Lein 1-7.