Zimmerman helps Raiders to winning start

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NICOLLET -- Nicollet quarterback Jeff Zimmerman has taken several varsity snaps before, but he admitted that before Thursday's nonconference game with Lincoln HI/Lake Benton, the butterflies in his stomach were still going heading into his first career start.

Zimmerman struggled in the first half as the Raiders scored only two points courtesy of a safety, but gained some confidence thanks to some big plays from his offense and led the Raiders to a 21-14 win over the Rebels at Nicollet.

"I really didn't know what to expect and what we'd come out and do, but it was a good experience for everyone I think," Zimmerman said. "I guess after we got going, I just settled down a bit and I felt good."

Zimmerman completed 9-of-16 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Cody Wilking rushed 14 times for 101 yards and a touchdown, not to mention 46-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter that was called back because of holding.

"We came in knowing that we had to pound the ball and know that we had to make 10, 12, 14 play drives instead of 1 or 2 like we did last year," Zimmerman said. "It's a different style of offense, but I think we're comfortable with it."

"Jeff made some good decisions, and he became more confident," Nicollet coach Tom Murphy said. "There's a lot going on. I can't imagine for a kid for the first time in a big game -- I think a lot of these kids this year know they have big shoes to fill. We told him to settle down and take some short things."

Brandon Rudenick put the Raiders on the board with 4:24 left in the first quarter after he blocked a punt and recorded the safety.

In the second quarter, Wilking broke a 46-yard carry for a touchdown, only to have to come back after a holding call.

Lincoln HI quarterback Josh Prosch rolled out of the pocket and found a wide open Mitch Pederson on a 62-yard touchdown that put the Rebels up 6-2 heading into halftime.

"We broke down sometimes at crucial points, but we came back together as a team," Zimmerman said.

On the opening kickoff in the third quarter, Wilking broke loose from the Rebel special teams and returned the kick all the way to the Rebel 11 yard line.

After a Wilking carry which brought the ball to the 8, Zimmerman rolled out to his right and spotted Ryan Grommersch at the 5-yard line.

Zimmerman then hit Rosin in the corner of the end zone to make it 8-6.

Nicollet then scored another touchdown after Jamie Mettler blocked a punt, and Brandon Rudenick scored from the 1-yard line to make it 14-6 after three.

The Raiders went up 21-6 in the fourth after Wilking broke another long run -- this time a 66-yard burst -- to give the Raiders some cushion.

However, Prosch found Pederson again, this time on a 46-yard completion, which brought the ball deep into Nicollet territory.

Posch later found Mark Stoffel for the score to make it 21-14 after the 2-point conversion.

Mike Rosin had four catches for 33 yards, and Mettler caught three passes for 24 yards. Defensively, Brandon Rudenick had 14 tackles, a safety and a blocked punt, and Carl Wilking and Cody Wilking each had 10 tackles. Rosin had seven tackles.

Nicollet (1-0) travels to Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther Friday.

BL-H 21, RRC 6

LAMBERTON -- Buffalo Lake-Hector scored 21 first-half points and defeated Red Rock Central 21-6 in prep football action Thursday.

Jesse Como had touchdown runs of 4, 2 and 80 yards. The Falcons scored their only touchdown when Sam Furth found Andy DeCock on an 8-yard strike with eight minutes left.

Como rushed 20 times for 251 yards and BLH had 356 yards, 323 of them on the ground.

The Falcons had 107 total yards. Furth threw for 148 yards. Kirk Nelson had 13 tackles.

The Falcons (0-1) are at Wabasso Friday and BLH (1-0) is at Springfield Friday.