CLEVELAND &8212; After a successful season last year, the Alden-Conger football team is in an unfamiliar position after losing to Cleveland 22-16 Friday night dropping it to 0-2 on the year.

The Knights battled on both sides of the ball throughout the first half and went to the locker room even at eight each.

After halftime A-C couldn&8217;t keep Cleveland out of the end zone as the Clippers put up 14 more points and held a 22-8 advantage after three quarters.

&8220;We had some drives that ended with mistakes,&8221; said Knights head coach Chad Mattson. &8220;In a lot of ways I just don&8217;t think we were ready to play tonight and that showed out on the field.&8221;

A-C did pull to within six points in the fourth, but continuously had drives stall with no results and fell to their Southern Confederacy rivals.

The Knights were led on the ground by Mitchell Kleinschrodt, who rushed 20 times for 124 yards and one touchdown, while his backfield mate E.J. Knight added 12 carries for 49 yards and a TD.

A-C will be at home Friday when they host Granada Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther.