Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Madelia’s Josh Sletta carries the ball during a game earlier this season in Madelia.

NICOLLET — It was an imperfect game for both teams as Madelia edged Nicollet 13-7 on Friday night in a 9-man South Central District football contest.

“It was a disappointing game, and it was ugly,” Nicollet head coach Tom Murphy said. Murphy noted that the Raiders didn’t deserve to win because his team had opportunities to win, but shot itself in the foot and made mistakes everywhere.

Madelia drew blood first when quarterback Ethan Arndt handed the ball off to Josh Sletta who raced 88-yards for the touchdown. Angel Zamora’s kick was good and the Blackhawks led 7-0.

Nicollet’s Jon Mans tossed a 58-yard pass to Josh Chadderdon with 11:21 left in the second quarter. Anthony Macias kicked the extra point to knot the game 7-7 at halftime.

Nicollet pulled off a fake punt and got a first down. Madelia’s defense held the Raiders and Nicollet had to punt. The result was Madelia took over deep in its own territory which led to Zamora’s run.

Madelia’s Ramiro Zamora ran 88 yards for the eventual game-winning touchdown with 1:02 left in he third quarter. The kick for the extra point failed.

Nicollet had four key turnovers in the game. The biggest one came when the Raiders were driving for the potential winning score. Mans attempted to pass to a Nicollet receiver when Ramiro Zamora stepped in front and intercepted the pass effectively killing Nicollet’s chance to win the game.

“Ramiro Zamora is definitely a good player. When we get him touching the ball, good things happen,” Madelia head coach Nick Willaert said.

Zamora finished the game with two carries for 91 yards and the touchdown. He also had two interceptions. Sletta had 15 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown. Arndt was 5 for 12 passing for 81 yards. He rushed 19 times for 103 yards.

Madelia (3-2) will travel to Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons on Friday. Nicollet (1-3) will host Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (3-1) on Friday.