Raptors put on an offensive show and advance

Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, end of the half, touchdown, touchdown, punt, touchdown, punt. That is how the East Ridge offense did Friday night in their first round playoff game against the Eagles from Totino-Grace. Five of those touchdowns came off the arm of junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='105379' first='Tanner' last='Zolnosky']. With multiple turnovers and only fourteen points allowed, the defense wasn't too shabby either. It all added up to an East Ridge dominant 40-14 victory. On the game's opening drive, the Raptors' offense used the short passing game to move out near mid-field. Then Zolnosky found tight end [player_tooltip player_id='245478' first='Jaylin' last='Reese'], down the middle of the field for a 36 yard touchdown pass. After forcing a punt, the Raptors' offense went back to work. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='348816' first='Isaac' last='Walker'] picked up great yardage between the tackles, and Reese caught a pass in the flat, got upfield, and picked up twenty yards. Mixing the pass and run well, Walker finished up the drive with a nine yard scamper from nine yards out. "We ran the ball well, and our receivers made some fantastic catches," Zolnosky said. "Overall, we played a well-rounded football game." After a touchdown drive by Totino-Grace, an excellent kickoff return by the Raptors' Grant Miley set up his offense near mid-field. Guard Justin Johnson pulled around the left side and pancaked his man, springing Walker for a big gain on the outside. The Eagles' defense had a chance to get off the field, but off a play fake, Zolnosky got around the corner to pick up two yards on fourth and two. A few plays later, Zolnosky used his arm to find Reese again. The tight end caught the pass on the outside and cut up the field. He got hit near the sideline at the five yard line. Reese refused to go down and drove his legs and defender five yards into the end zone. Totino-Grace looked like they were about to get back into the game until East Ridge defensive back Alexander Mattes picked off a pass near the goal line. Down 20-7, TG's offense came out of the locker room with purpose. [player_tooltip player_id='313303' first='EJ' last='Mathis'] caught a pass in the flat and immediately cut up the field. His speed resulted in the Eagles' biggest play of the game. Fifty yards later, the Eagles were in the red zone. Mathis would finish the drive himself – scoring from one yard out. 28-14 was as close as the Eagles would get. The Zolnosky/Reese connection continued to work. Reese caught a pass and broke multiple tackles to pick up thirty yards. They mixed in the run, moving the ball into the red zone, but tonight was about the passing game. Zolnosky found Riley Schwellenbach in the middle of the field for another touchdown pass. "Riley and Jaylin – they are unbelievable. Riley is actually a baseball player and just started playing football last year," Zolnosky said. "He is so fast and smart and makes every play. Jaylin is committed to play for Air Force to play defense. He has been a big part of our offense, and his yards after catch is phenomenal. All our receivers play a massive part in our offense. All five of them have been great." The defense played nearly perfectly for the rest of the game. Reese – who is committed to Air Force on the defensive side of the ball - and linebacker Charlie Bern stuffed a run on fourth and short to give the ball back to the offense. "The defense has got the offenses' back – one hundred percent," Zolnosky said. "Today, they played with grit, and they always fight. It is fun to watch." Zolonosky and Schwellenbach hooked up twice on the next drive – in spectacular fashion. The athletic catches by the junior set up a [player_tooltip player_id='368538' first='Deontae' last='Flemino'] touchdown catch. Miley would pick off another Eagles' pass in the fourth quarter setting up Zolnosky's fifth touchdown pass of the game and Schwellenbach's second touchdown catch - capping off the 40-14 victory.

Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, end of the half, touchdown, touchdown, punt, touchdown, punt. That is how the East Ridge offense did Friday night in their first round playoff game against the Eagles from Totino-Grace. Five of those touchdowns came off the arm of junior quarterback Tanner Zolnosky Tanner Zolnosky 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB East Ridge | 2024 State MN . With multiple turnovers and only fourteen points allowed, the defense wasn't too shabby either. It all added up to an East Ridge dominant 40-14 victory.
On the game's opening drive, the Raptors' offense used the short passing game to move out near mid-field. Then Zolnosky found tight end Jaylin Reese Jaylin Reese 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL East Ridge | 2023 State MN , down the middle of the field for a 36 yard touchdown pass.
After forcing a punt, the Raptors' offense went back to work. Running back Isaac Walker Isaac Walker RB East Ridge | 2024 MN picked up great yardage between the tackles, and Reese caught a pass in the flat, got upfield, and picked up twenty yards. Mixing the pass and run well, Walker finished up the drive with a nine yard scamper from nine yards out.
"We ran the ball well, and our receivers made some fantastic catches," Zolnosky said. "Overall, we played a well-rounded football game."
After a touchdown drive by Totino-Grace, an excellent kickoff return by the Raptors' Grant Miley set up his offense near mid-field. Guard Justin Johnson pulled around the left side and pancaked his man, springing Walker for a big gain on the outside. The Eagles' defense had a chance to get off the field, but off a play fake, Zolnosky got around the corner to pick up two yards on fourth and two. A few plays later, Zolnosky used his arm to find Reese again. The tight end caught the pass on the outside and cut up the field. He got hit near the sideline at the five yard line. Reese refused to go down and drove his legs and defender five yards into the end zone.
Totino-Grace looked like they were about to get back into the game until East Ridge defensive back Alexander Mattes picked off a pass near the goal line.
Down 20-7, TG's offense came out of the locker room with purpose. Ej Mathis Ej Mathis 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Totino-Grace | 2023 MN caught a pass in the flat and immediately cut up the field. His speed resulted in the Eagles' biggest play of the game. Fifty yards later, the Eagles were in the red zone. Mathis would finish the drive himself – scoring from one yard out.
28-14 was as close as the Eagles would get. The Zolnosky/Reese connection continued to work. Reese caught a pass and broke multiple tackles to pick up thirty yards. They mixed in the run, moving the ball into the red zone, but tonight was about the passing game. Zolnosky found Riley Schwellenbach in the middle of the field for another touchdown pass.
"Riley and Jaylin – they are unbelievable. Riley is actually a baseball player and just started playing football last year," Zolnosky said. "He is so fast and smart and makes every play. Jaylin is committed to play for Air Force to play defense. He has been a big part of our offense, and his yards after catch is phenomenal. All our receivers play a massive part in our offense. All five of them have been great."
The defense played nearly perfectly for the rest of the game. Reese – who is committed to Air Force on the defensive side of the ball - and linebacker Charlie Bern stuffed a run on fourth and short to give the ball back to the offense.
"The defense has got the offenses' back – one hundred percent," Zolnosky said. "Today, they played with grit, and they always fight. It is fun to watch."
Zolonosky and Schwellenbach hooked up twice on the next drive – in spectacular fashion. The athletic catches by the junior set up a Deontae Flemino Deontae Flemino 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR East Ridge | 2024 State MN touchdown catch.
Miley would pick off another Eagles' pass in the fourth quarter setting up Zolnosky's fifth touchdown pass of the game and Schwellenbach's second touchdown catch - capping off the 40-14 victory.