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Cretin does it with defense

By David La Vaque, Star Tribune, 09/02/11, 10:15PM CDT

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Raiders grind out an opening-week victory over East Ridge


East Ridge quarterback Brandon Johnson was pursued by Cretin-Derham Hall's Jonathan Harden in the first quarter. Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribuner

A game recap suggested to Cretin-Derham Hall football coach Mike Scanlon in which the Raiders were lauded for overcoming injuries and penalties to beat East Ridge 27-6 did not draw his approval.

“That’s one way to look at it,” Scanlan said. “This isn’t what I would have liked to have seen. But the defense played great. Even when we struggled on offense, we could count on the defense to get the ball back.”

The best example of the defense stepping up during Friday’s game at the University of St. Thomas came in the third quarter. The offense failed to convert on fourth-and-6 at the East Ridge 21, but the Raiders defense held firm. The Raptors managed only 5 yards on three plays before punting.

The ball traveled just 19 yards and gave the Raiders a fresh possession on the Raptors 45-yard line.

Mired in the first half because of penalties and a strong Raptors defense, Cretin-Derham’s offense persevered to the end zone.

Quarterback Kevin Miley spurred the drive along by running left on third-and-2 and picking up 16 yards to the East Ridge 21-yard line.

Two fourth-down conversions made the difference. The first, a 3-yard run by Michael Bins, moved the ball to the Raptors 9-yard line. The second one ended the drive, Miley scoring from the 1 with 29.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

“Going into half they were more or less shutting us down or we were shutting ourselves down,” Miley said. “We knew we could do better than that.”

The offense did more with less. Standout wide receiver Taylor Montero was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury at a summer basketball tournament.

Kendrik Brewster, a veteran running back, had his left arm in a sling after halftime to support his injured shoulder.
While the defense stifled East Ridge, the Raiders special teams struck gold twice. Cortez Tillman set up Miley’s short touchdown run in the first quarter by returning a punt 41 yards to the Raptors 2-yard line.

Early in the fourth quarter, a bad snap to the punter deep in East Ridge territory resulted in Blake Banham’s 3-yard scoop and score to make it 20-0.

A 25-yard screen pass from Conor Rhoda to James Onwualu put the Raiders ahead 27-0 in the fourth quarter.

The solid execution of that play stood in stark contrast to the first half. Both team mustered just 52 yards while getting flagged for more penalty yards.

The Raiders were drew seven penalties for 77 yards while East Ridge took five penalties for 58 yards.
 

Raiders "D" earns an "A"

An East Ridge assistant coach watching from the press box during Friday’s game against Cretin-Derham Hall noted of Raiders’ 300-pound defensive tackle Jonathan Harden, “When he lines up, his nose is in one gap and his butt is in the other.”

As a unit, the Raiders’ defense did indeed seem to be everywhere in Friday’s 27-6 victory. Harden, a first-team Star Tribune all-metro selection last season, was his typical disruptive self inside. Linebacker Tim McClanahan got his number called 13 times on tackles, including three for a loss plus a sack.

The Raiders’ defense didn’t allow the Raptors to score until 2.4 seconds remained in the fourth quarter. Another impressive statistic: nine defensive starters are new this season.

“Our defense is outstanding,” Raiders quarterback Kevin Miley said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they were one of the best in the state. With Harden and McClanahan up the middle – I can’t see many teams doing too well against them. They give our offense room to breathe.”

In the first half, East Ridge’s defense kept pace by limiting the Raiders’ passing game. Cretin-Derham Hall’s defense responded, forcing East Ridge into six punts.

A short first half touchdown run from Miley stood as the game’s only points until the third quarter. A failed 4th-and-6 forced Cretin-Derham Hall to turn the ball over on downs. But the Raiders held firm, forcing the Raptors to punt from their own 26 yard line and lose the field position game.

“The defense played great,” Raiders coach Mike Scanlon said. “Even when we struggled on offense, we could count on the defense to get the ball back for us. That makes a big difference.”

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