East Ridge defeats Cretin-Derham Hall 23-7

According to East Ridge coach Mike Pendino, the Raptors' identity is down and dirty, a run-first, smack-'em-in-the-mouth bunch.

So, of course, it was through the air that the Raptors beat Cretin-Derham Hall 23-7 Friday night.

More specifically, it was the arm of Seth Green that did in the Raiders. Green, the Raptors' 6-4, 210-pound quarterback, completed 14 of 30 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, both to wide receiver and childhood buddy Kjetil Cline.

"They were focused on stopping us up front, so we had to let Seth carry us," Pendino said. "I'll tell you what: Seth is going to carry us a lot if we're going to have success."

Cretin-Derham Hall started the game strong, gaining 53 yards on its first two plays from scrimmage.

That drive stalled, but the Raiders took a 7-0 lead two possessions later when quarterback Maxwell Jackson hit receiver Tony Adamle in stride for a 42-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter.

To that point, the Raiders had outgained the Raptors 104 yards to 29 and had picked off a pass.

But East Ridge, playing rope-a-dope like a prizefighter, found momentum from Green's arm and legs. He found Cline for a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter — a beautifully lofted 25-yard corner route and a laser on 27-yard post for a 13-7 halftime lead.

"We were just taking what they were giving us," Green said. "Kjetil and me, we're so close. We're like brothers."

The game was billed as a matchup between Green and Cretin-Derham Hall star defensive end Jashon Cornell, an Ohio State recruit. Cornell had his moments — one sack, one quarterback hurry and one pass knocked down — but it was Green who owned the evening. When his receivers were covered, Green was able to advance the ball with his feet. He rushed 11 times for 50 yards, including the game-clinching touchdown on a 1-yard sneak midway through the fourth quarter.

"It was really the second half that hurt us," Cornell said. "We'd stop him, but then he'd step up in the pocket and run, and that killed us. Luckily, it's just one game. We've got a whole season to go."

The victory was East Ridge's first over Cretin-Derham Hall in six meetings. Pendino acknowledged that it carried a little more weight.

"It was just one game, but yeah, it was a big game," Pendino said. "Now we go get ready to do it again next week."