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  • Nicollet quarterback Sean Murphy (12) scrambles and is brought down by Cleveland defensive end Alex Zimprich as Austin Goettlicher (1) chases down the play during their game Thursday at Hollingsworth Field in St. Peter. Wright Braudt

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  • Nicollet running back Nick Mans outruns Dane Lynch (77) and the Cleveland defense on his way to a third-quarter touchdown Thursday at Hollingsworth Field in St. Peter. Mans scored two touchdowns in the 35-8 Raiders win. Wright Braudt

    Nicollet2 090210.jpg

September 3, 2010

Mans, Raiders rough up Clippers

Nicollet RB scores twice, rushes for 104 yards

By Shane Frederick Free Press Staff Writer

ST PETER — Nick Mans had been part of the old hook-and-ladder play many times for the Nicollet nine-man football team, but until Thursday, he had always been the pitch man.

“We went down the other side, and they weren’t expecting it,” Mans said of his trick-play touchdown in Raiders’ 35-8 season-opening victory over Cleveland at Gustavus Adolphus College’s Hollingsworth Field.

The play, which capped a 20-point first quarter for Nicollet, was executed flawlessly, with junior quarterback Sean Murphy tossing a 7-yard swing pass to Jamie Fischer in the left flat and Mans taking the quick pitch and sprinting the final 15 yards for the score.

“We’ve had that up our sleeve for many years,” Mans said. “We have it down to a science.”

Mans also had 20 carries for 104 yards and an 8-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.

“Nick, he’s really improved,” Raiders coach Tom Murphy said. “There were a couple of plays where he put his foot on the ground and went in the other direction. He’s the poster child for our offseason work.”

Sean Murphy, meanwhile, had 15 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown. He also had a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion run and was 4 for 5 on PAT kicks.

Blake Bode caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Murphy on the game’s opening drive, and running back Kyle Hood scored the Raiders’ second touchdown.

“I was most pleased with our conditioning,” Tom Murphy said. “We put in a new offseason program, and our conditioning paid off big time.”

Nicollet outgained Cleveland 429 yards to 188 but held the Clippers below the 100-yard mark through three quarters.

Cleveland’s lone score came on a 1-yard run by junior quarterback Austin Goettlicher with about three minutes remaining in the game and as the dusk began to overtake the stadium, which does not have lights. Goettlicher also ran in the ensuing conversion.

“The biggest thing is we held them at the line,” Mans said. “If we didn’t stop them at the line of scrimmage, (the line) was pushed back. Very few plays came to us. I have to give props to our line tonight.”

The Raiders also had a pair of touchdowns called back due to penalties and had drives stalled on turnovers. Cleveland linebacker Charlie Voit had a goal-line interception in the second quarter and a fumble recovery, and teammate Grant Den Herder  also recovered a fumble.

Nicollet defenders Jamie Fischer and Garett Schmitt had first-quarter interceptions. Bode also had a pick.

Both teams will play again on Friday, Sept. 10, with the Raiders (1-0) hosting Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther and the Clippers (0-1) hosting Edgerton/Ellsworth.

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