Sports

East Ridge pulls away from Cretin-Derham Hall in second half

With trouble all around, the Raptors surged in the second half and beat Cretin-Derham Hall

By David La Vaque

September 19, 2015 at 4:31AM

Cretin-Derham Hall receiver Denzel Fondungallah caught a 47-yard touchdown pass against East Ridge in the first half Friday night at the University of St. Thomas. It was 14-all at halftime, but the Raptors scored the first three touchdowns in the second half to win 35-20. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

With his football team leading by just a touchdown in the second half, East Ridge defensive back Griffen Davis kept faith as the Raptors' other units went cold.

A field-goal attempt hits the upright. The defense turns Cretin-Derham Hall over on downs.

Running back Dominik London, untouched, loses a fumbles. The defense holds the Raiders for three consecutive downs and forces a short punt.

The offense finally rejoined the party. Quarterback Otumus Payemanu took the ensuing play 38 yards to the end zone for a 28-14 lead in the fourth quarter and East Ridge cruised from there in a 35-20 victory.

"All year we've been preaching, 'Never be the team that gets down and just quits,' " said Davis, one of the team's five senior captains. "We want to be the team that's always positive and always has a chance to make something happen."

As the close game wore on, a favorite was hard to determine. After all, East Ridge has shown no quit despite losing two Division I players a season earlier than expected and its head coach a week before the season.

On the other sideline, Cretin-Derham Hall (3-2) played with the moxie of a team that trailed in all three of its previous victories this season.

East Ridge (4-1) won out, though, outscoring the host Raiders 21-6 in the second half at the University of St. Thomas.

"Heart," said Raptors junior running back Dominik London, identifying the key to victory. London showed plenty, rushing 26 times for 205 yards. Payemanu added 115 yards on 16 carries.

"We fight through adversity,'' London said. "We believe everything will pan out if we worry about ourselves."

The teams went into halftime tied 14-14. East Ridge scored first thanks to a 69-yard punt return by Davis. He set up the first of two Connor Mohs 1-yard touchdown runs in the first half.

Raiders quarterback Daniel Ryan hit Denzel Fondungallah in stride for a 47-yard score. A 17-yard run by Jonathan Westafer put the home team ahead 14-7 late in the first quarter.

East Ridge responded with four consecutive touchdowns as the Raptors defense clamped down.

"The defense is always amazing," London said. "In my heart, they are the No. 1 defense in the state."

East Ridge lineman Brock Albrecht, left, and tight end Ben Arndt celebrated their team’s 35-20 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall on Friday night at the University of St. Thomas. The score was 14-all at halftime, but the Raptors scored the first three touchdowns of the second half. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

East Ridge lineman Brock Albrecht, left, and tight end Ben Arndt celebrated their team’s 35-20 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall on Friday night at the University of St. Thomas. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writer

David La Vaque

Reporter

David La Vaque is a high school sports reporter who has been the lead high school hockey writer for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2010. He is co-author of “Tourney Time,” a book about the history of Minnesota’s boys hockey state tournament published in 2020 and updated in 2024.