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.”

East Ridge took another big step in its progression from wanna-be to contender by defeating Suburban East rival Cretin-Derham Hall 23-7 before a packed house at O'Shaughnessy Field at the University of St. Thomas.

Raptors quarterback Seth Green completed 14 of 30 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns – both to wide receiver Kjetil Cline -- and scored the game-clinching touchdown on a one-yard sneak in the fourth quarter.

Cretin-Derham Hall (1-1) got iis only touchdown on a 42-yard pass to Tony Adamle on the final play of the first quarter, but the Raiders failed to score again as East Ridge picked off three passes on the night.

The victory is East Ridge’s first over Cretin-Derham Hall in its six years of existence.

Check back later for more on the game.

Key of the game: With East Ridge trailing 7-0, longtime friends Seth Green and Kjetil Cline hooked up for a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, the second one coming with just three seconds left in the first half, giving East Ridge a 13-7 halftime lead that it never relinquished.

Quote: “That was huge. It gave us momentum. I’ve been playing with Seth since we were little and we know what each other is going to do and where we’ll be.” — Cline on his second touchdown reception of the game.

One thing to know: After Cretin-Derham Hall scored its only touchdown, mistakes cost the Raiders dearly. They missed a 38-yard field goal, had three passes intercepted and failed on fourth-and-goal in the waning moments of the game.

JIM PAULSEN