WOODBURY, Minnesota - On their first ever Senior Night, the East Ridge Raptors ran over, through and around the Forest Lake Rangers, winning 56-28. The 2nd year school had no senior class when the doors opened last year and the underclassmen on the football team learned many hard lessons last fall while failing to earn a victory.

This season, however, has been a much different story. East Ridge picked up their first ever victory in week one with a victory over district rival, Woodbury. Their impressive victory tonight over Forest Lake ran their regular season record this year to 6-2.

As usual, the Raptors were led by RB EZ Okeleye. The senior ran for 200 yards on 24 carries and scored 3 times, including both first quarter touchdowns for East Ridge, when the game was still in doubt. Okeleye was surrounded by offensive help as the Raptors got touchdowns from five other players as well. The 56 points scored was a new school record for East Ridge. While the defense didn't join in the scoring binge, they created five turnovers and continually set the offense up in good field position.

That started on the game's opening play. After receiving the opening kickoff, Forest Lake fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage and East Ridge took over on the Forest Lake 39 yard line. Four plays later East Ridge took a 7-0 lead on Okeleye's 9 yard run. Forest Lake got on the board on a J.T. Jurasin 4 yard run, but trailed 7-6 when the PAT was missed. Okeleye scored on a 5 yard run to give East Ridge a 14-6 1st quarter lead.

The teams traded 2nd quarter touchdowns with Forest Lake tying the game on a 35 yard TD reception for senior Zack Greene and 2 pt. conversion by Tommy Tyson. East Ridge took a 21-14 into halftime as junior QB Brandon Johnson scored on a 1 yard sneak.

East Ridge increased their lead on the opening possession of the 2nd half, capping a 3 1/2 minute scoring drive with Okeleye's 3rd TD of the night, this one from 4 yards out. Forest Lake was quick to answer. On the next play from scrimmage, junior C.J. Franklin broke 3 tackles, then sprinted 68 yards to the endzone. East Ridge would extend the lead to 42-21 after 3 quarters by getting touchdown runs from Austin Fischer and Adedayo Idowu.

The onslaught continued on the first play of the 4th quarter when Johnson found senior wide receiver behind the Forest Lake defense for a 54 yard touchdown. Following the 5th Forest Lake turnover, Sam Motzko rambled 28 yards for his first touchdown of the season and East Ridge was over the 50 point for the first time ever.

Franklin took the ensuing kickoff back 73 yards to the Raptor 17 yard line and completed the evening's scoring 2 plays later by carrying in from 18 yards out.

East Ridge, with their 6-2 regular season record, is the likely #2 seed in section 4AAAAA and will have a home game to open the playoffs, most likely against Hastings, a team they defeated 42-14 in week 2.

Forest Lake saw their 3 game winning streak come to an end and finished their regular season 3-5. They will also open the section playoffs Tuesday night against an undetermined opponent and location, although St. Francis is a likely opponent in round one.

Players of the game:
Forest Lake: C.J. Franklin - rushing: 10-119 2 TD's, receiving: 2-61 and a 73 yard KO return.
East Ridge: EZ Okeleye - rushing: 24-200 3 TD's