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NICOLLET - Yellow ghosts were flying around the Nicollet football field Saturday night, and they haunted the Raider's offense.

Four penalties were called on illegal blocking in the back on four consecutive punt returns, yet the Raiders were able to shake their ghosts and win 35-12 over the Cleveland Clippers in section 2 semi-final play off nine-man football action.

Cleveland started the game with control of the ball, but were shut down by the Nicollet defense. The Raiders fumbled on the punt return and turned the ball back over to the Clippers.

Cleveland took advantage of the situation and marched the ball down to the 13-yard line. An interception by Raider Matt Renne in the endzone then temporarily ended the Clippers' scoring threat.

On the next possession, the Clipper's A.J. Zimmerman broke three tackles and ran in a 22-yard touchdown pass with 4:55 left in the first quarter.

The Raiders' answered back with a 13- yard touchdown pass from Jordan Rudenick to Renne with less than a minute on the clock. The PAT kicked by Rudenick was good, making the score at the end of the first quarter 7-6. The quarter also ended with the Clippers on their own two yard line.

Cleveland scored six seconds into the second quarter, and the Raider offense struggled to get down the field with set backs from penalties.

However, the Raiders' forced the ball down the field and Rudenick had a seven yard touchdown pass to Sean Murphy.

On their next possession, Murphy ran in a 72-yard touchdown pass with 1:13 left in the half. The halftime score showed Nicollet ahead 21-12.

The defenses battled back and forth over several possessions in the third quarter, with neither team putting together a long drive.

With three minutes left, a forward flick that Murphy ran up to the 3-yard line put the Raiders in scoring position. Rudenick found Jamie Fischer in the end zone, making the score 28-12.

The fourth quarter revealed the Raiders were in control of the field and the clock. The Clippers struggled to put together an offensive drive, and Nicollet took full advantage.

Rudenick ran 40 yards on a quarterback keeper, but was brought down on the 5-yard line. On the next play, Renne caught a 5-yard touchdown pass with 7:29 left on the clock. The Raider defense shut down the Clippers rest of the game and the final score was 35-12.

Rudenick was 20-for-33 for 233 passing yards and five touchdowns.

Nicollet finished with 194 rushing yards.

Defensively, Dusty Giefer eight tackles and three sacks.

"We were a little shellshocked coming out here tonight after the bye week." Rudenick said. "We started really slow, but we pulled through some adversity and after the first quarter, we pulled it together and got the win."

"We didn't want to play like that in the first quarter," head coach Tom Murphy said. "We weren't playing well, but we kept focused and made some big plays. We needed those plays to jumpstart us.

"We had some great defense tonight," Murphy continued. "We really contained their quarterback in the second half and he's a really talented athelete."

"Now we're going to focus on self," Murphy said. "On execution, were we need to put our hands, and on timing. We'll be ready for Tuesday."

Nicollet plays St. Clair in Section 2 finals Tuesday in Nicollet at 7 p.m.