Nicollet made up for last year’s section championship loss to Alden-Conger Friday with a 20-12 victory in Nicollet, which gave Raiders head coach Tom Murphy his 100th career victory.

Knights head coach Chad Mattson felt his team was the better team and the statistical evidence would point to that as Alden-Conger held an edge in nearly every category except the score.

“I think for the most part we were the better team, so in our minds we should have walked away with this one,” Mattson said.

The Knights (3-3, 3-3 SMC) outgained Nicollet 364-330, rushed for 170 yards, compared to just 57 for the Raiders (5-1, 5-1 SMC) and won the turnover battle as well, but three big plays were the difference.

Nicollet quarterback Jordan Rudenick was as advertised, completing 17 of 34 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Two of his touchdown passes came on broken plays that broke the backs of the Knights.

Rudenick completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Blake Bode in the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead and later completed a 19-yard touchdown pass and a 32-yard touchdown pass.

Alden-Conger answered the Raiders’ initial score when Brandon McTague punched it in from 1 yard out after his 72-yard interception return gave the Knights the ball at Nicollet’s 1-yard line.

Alden-Conger failed to capitalize on three opportunities from the red zone as penalties and a fumble cost the Knights a chance of taking control of the game.

Lucas Kleinschrodt threw for 194 yards, completing 15 of his 35 passes. He also led the team with 56 yards rushing.

Max Keller made it a one-score game in the fourth with a 1-yard touchdown run, but it was too late at that point for the Knights.

Alden-Conger plays Edgerton Wednesday in Edgerton before wrapping up the regular season with Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton.

Nicollet 20, Alden-Conger 12

Nicollet 0 14 6 0 — 20

Alden-Conger 0 6 0 6 — 12

Second Quarter

N—Bode 34 pass from Rudenick (Blashack kick).

AC—McTague 1 run (run failed).

N—Renne 19 pass from Rudenick (Blashack kick).

Third Quarter

N—Murphy 32 pass from Rudenick (kick failed).

Fourth Quarter

AC— Keller 1 run (pass failed).

AC N

First Downs 17 13

Total Net Yards 364 330

Rushes-Yards 50-170 26-57

Passing 194 273

Punt Returns 2-3 1-10

Punts 5-24.4 4-26.25

Kickoff Returns 4-41 3-58

Interceptions-Ret. 2-72 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 15-35-1 17-34-2

Sacked-Yard lost NA 4-NA

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0

Penalties-Yards 3-20 4-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—AC, Kleinschrodt 19-68, McTague 16-45, Marth 3-34, Keller 4-12, Bernal 8-11.

PASSING—AC, Kleinschrodt 15-35-0-194. N, Rudenick 17-34-2-273.

RECEIVING—AC, Keller 6-86, Majerus 5-60, Bernal 3-35, Marth 1-13.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.