East Ridge football: No.2-ranked Cretin-Derham Hall takes 37-0 lead, ends Raptors' season

East Ridge’s season came to an end with a 44-13 loss to No. 2-ranked Cretin-Derham Hall in the Section 4AAAAA semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 29, in St. Paul.

During the regular season, Suburban East Conference foe Cretin-Derham Hall allowed an average of only 7.6 points per game compiling an 8-0 record.

In Saturday’s playoff game, fifth-seeded East Ridge (3-7) was hoping to avenge a 27-6 loss to Cretin-Derham Hall in the 2011 season opener back on Friday, Sept. 2, but the top-seeded Raiders’ defense, and offense, was up to the challenge.

Cretin-Derham Hall (9-0) took a 37-0 lead on the Raptors early in the third quarter and cruised to victory and a section final appearance.

Cretin's first play carried them 30 yards into East Ridge territory, leading to the field goal that made the score 3-0 at three minutes into the first quarter. East Ridge's strong kick-off return and 13 yard passing play wasn't enough to overcome the 14 yard loss endured after Cretin sacked Raptors’ quarterback Brandon Johnson.

East Ridge was forced to punt to Cretin and Raiders’ quarterback made a 52-yard touchdown pass making the score 10-0 with 2:29 left in the first quarter. After a fifteen yard kick-off return and a completed passing play for a 42-yard gain, East Ridge made their first foray into Cretin's red-zone. On the next play, the Cretin defense sacked Johnson again, and East Ridge lost further yardage after receiving an intentional grounding penalty. The Raptors went for it on fourth down, but were again taken down by Cretin's defense.

Cretin scored a touchdown and extra point, and after the Raiders' Zachary Hager intercepted an East Ridge pass, they scored another touchdown, making the score 24 to 0 with 7:15 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Raptors picked off an interception of its own, putting them on their own 35, but after losing yardage to Cretin's defense, East Ridge was again forced to punt. Cretin returned for a touchdown, making the score 31-0 with three minutes left in the first half.

East Ridge was once again able to bring the ball to Cretin's red zone, but the half ended before they could score.

In the second half, East Ridge fumbled and recovered Cretin's kick-off to start the second half. After a strong running play, East Ridge used a shovel pass to score a touchdown, but it was taken away, leaving the Raptors still scoreless in the third quarter.

Cretin converted their next plays into another touchdown, making the score 37-0.

East Ridge gained enough yards in running plays to put them past Cretin's 20 yard-line once again. This time their efforts paid off, and East Ridge junior running back Nick Leach scored the Raptor's first touchdown. After the extra point, the score was 37-7 with 3:18 seconds left in the third quarter.

A strong running play by Cretin brought the score to 44-7. East Ridge was soon forced to punt to Cretin. This time the East Ridge defense stopped Cretin, and they were forced to punt to East Ridge for the first time.

East Ridge completed a long pass in a risky play that brought them to Cretin's 12 yard-line. They scored another touchdown, but were unable to score a two-point conversion. With 41 seconds left in the game, the final score was 44-13, and East Ridge had finished their last game of the season.

East Ridge must now say good-bye to 32 seniors from its roster including starting running backs Val Huerta and Austin Fischer, the team’s starting quarterback in Johnson, stalwart defensive back and running back Dayo Ogundepo, senior captain and three-year starting offensive lineman Marcus Kelly, leading receiver Luke Mlsna and key defensive players Javon Williams-Gorman, Cody Struss, David Lang and Lance Durand.

See the full story in the Nov. 2 issue of the Bulletin

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