Get a push upfront and have the ball carrier follow the jersey number of the guy in front of him. 

It’s simple and direct, and East Ridge might do it as well as any team around.

Led by Gophers recruit Domink London, the Raptors separated themselves from host Mounds View Friday night in Arden Hills behind a powerful and steady ground assault. With an authoritative fourth quarter, East Ridge went from being tied to owning a double-digit lead and finished with a 24-14 victory.

London, a stout running back who carried the ball 43 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns, shouldered the load for the Raptors (1-1), ranked No. 10 in the Star Tribune’s metro rankings. 

East Ridge controlled the ball for much of the first half, and led 14-0 at the break. By that time, London had already amassed 118 yards on 28 attempts. However, Mounds View (1-1) fought back in the third quarter, scoring twice to tie the game 14-14.

Entering the fourth quarter, East Ridge coach Dan Fritze may have felt as if he was reliving a bad dream, reminiscent of last week’s loss to No. 2-ranked Lakeville North in which the Raptors let a 17-0 halftime lead slip away before falling 24-23.

This time, the Raptors were poised to seize the moment of crisis -- or opportunity.

“It felt like deja vu of last week,” Fritze said afterward. “We were able run our up-tempo offense in the first half and we had them down a couple scores. 

“The difference is tonight we made plays this time, and this time we were used to it.”

Special teams provided a boost midway through the fourth quarter when Grant Ryerse nailed a 40-yard field goal that reclaimed the lead for East Ridge. London’s final TD came with 1:30 remaining and provided the nail in the coffin.

For most teams, 43 carries is a collective effort. For East Ridge, that’s a desired workload for London.

“He’s used to it,” Fritze said. “Teams are always going to focus on him, but we still need to give him the ball."

The Raptors offensive line paved the way for the team to rack up more than 250 rushing yards and fight back the tide of the eight-in-the-box defense the Mustangs employed.

Much praise and attention was lavished on East Ridge’s front five last year, a sizable collection that helped the Raptors finish as Class 6A runners-up. But with four of the five from that unit graduated, this new group is getting things done in a slightly different way.

Lacking some of the size from a season ago, the unit still remains proficient in how it creates gaps, and it has helped launch London to almost 330 yards on the ground through two games against quality opponents this season. 

“We’ve been known for having one of the best offensive lines in the state,” London said. “This year, these guys might not be the biggest we’ve had, but they carry out their assignments and do their jobs as well as anyone else.”

Moreover, senior Ty Okada continues to grow as a potential dual-threat quarterback, adding another 81 rushing yards on 13 tries Friday. As a passer, he connected with four different receivers and was 6-of-8 for 80 yards with one interception. 

Okada is also a captain on East Ridge’s wrestling team and a two-time state qualifier.

“He’s a tough kid,” Fritze said of Okada. “We don’t mind when he takes off with the ball, and when he needs to, he can make plays through the air.”

As East Ridge builds toward its ample expectations for this season, one goal might be to grow more balanced in the way it moves the ball. If that means fewer than 40 carries for London, he’s obliged to share.

“When I see passes going downfield, it makes me so happy,” he said. “It makes our offense so much more dynamic and should keep defenses guessing more about our intentions.”

East Ridge stuck to its script and methodically ran the ball for successful stretches Friday night in Arden Hills as the Raptors rolled past host Mounds View 24-14.

East Ridge (1-1), No. 10 in the Star Tribune's metro rankings, never trailed against its East Metro District rival.

Raptors senior running back Dominik London, a Gophers recruit, carried the ball 43 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. In the first half alone, London had 118 yards and two TDs on 28 touches.

After a scoreless opening quarter, London punched in the game’s first score on a 5-yard run just 11 seconds into the second quarter. He added another TD few minutes later from 1 yard out to give East Ridge a 14-0.

The Mustangs mounted a second-half surge, breaking their scoring drought midway through the third quarter with a 40-yard touchdown run from Xavier Myles. A 6-yard TD pass from Ryan Nickel to Erik Holloman soon followed, and the two connected for a successful conversion that leveled things 14-14 with 2:49 left in the frame.

However, East Ridge quashed the momentum swing and outscored Mounds View 10-0 in the final quarter. After kicker Grant Ryerse knocked down a 40-yard field goal to reclaim the lead, London scored his third touchdown of the night to put the game out of reach.

Mounds View (1-1) gets back to work in preparation for next week’s road contest at Forest Lake, while East Ridge turns its focus toward a trip to White Bear Lake.