Regular Season Recap: East Ridge 2025

The East Ridge Raptors went 4-4 this season, taking down big wins over Hopkins, White Bear Lake, Roseville, and most impressively, Stillwater. They have a roster loaded with talent, including several current D1 and D2 commits, with other athletes boasting similar talent. They take on Andover in the first round of the 6A playoff bracket on Friday, 10/24.   Offense:   QB:   East Ridge was forced to experiment at QB a little this season, due to an injury to [player_tooltip player_id='1602754' first='Cedric' last='Tomes'] early on in the year. Three athletes got significant looks as a signal-caller this season, including Tomes. Stalsberg, who also had a serious impact as a receiver, is listed as a QB because a majority of his season was played there.    What can be said that hasn't already been said about Tomes? The Gopher's basketball commit missed most of his senior season due to injury, but made his presence felt once he got back on the field. In only two games, Tomes went 30/48 (62.5%) through the air, for 369 yards and 2 TDs. His game isn't limited to passing, however, and he burned defenses in the final two games of the season. Tomes rushed for 204 yards on 47 carries, finding the endzone twice and converting a 2-point once. He's incredibly explosive and is this team's X-factor. When he's on, the Raptors are a force to be reckoned with.     Stalsberg has typically been a receiver by trade, but was forced to step into that shot-caller role for the Raptors when Tomes went down early in the season. He played in 5 games as a QB, going 20/37 (54.1%) for 348 yards and finding the endzone once during his time under center. He also picked up 98 rushing yards and a TD on the ground. When he was finally bumped back out wide, Stalsberg evolved into a solid WR2, catching 11 balls for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was also a punter for the Raptors, punting 12 times over the course of the season for 441 yards. The first thing you notice when you dive into his tape is how athletic he is. Stalsberg moves super well, and the lefty boasts a snappy release when slinging the rock. As a receiver, he runs routes well, but I think his best trait is his ability to bring down contested balls in traffic.     A baseball standout who has seen time as a signal-caller for the Raptors this season, Tretter got the starting nod against Forest Lake in Week 6. Against the Rangers, Tretter went 13/20 (65%) through the air for 127 yards. He also had 5 rushes for 15 yards. He doesn't have any tape out from his junior season, but he's a likely candidate to take over the starting QB role next fall, and should be a name to look out for during the offseason.    RBs:   There were a handful of ball carriers for the Raptors this season, but only two of them are primary RBs, while the others also have a larger role on defense, and as such, they will be listed later on in their respective defensive positions.    Hurley was the primary ball carrier for East Ridge this season, ending the year leading the team in both carries and rushing yards. He took 91 carries for 425 yards and 3 TDs, with only one fumble on the year. He also caught two passes and returned 10 kicks for a combined 135 yards. He's got a good amount of tape out from his senior year, where he showcases explosiveness and hard running. Hurley can make very quick cuts upfield off the backs of his blockers, and I love how rapidly he gets north on his runs. He runs well through traffic, often finding small running lanes and capitalizing on them. Possible stock riser if East Ridge can pull off a deep playoff run.     Laboy saw limited action during his junior season, but he's the only back who isn't graduating this spring and should be widely considered the frontrunner for that RB1 job next year. He played in 3 games, carrying the ball 19 times for 111 yards, for a solid 5.8 YPC. He also caught a pair of passes. He doesn't have any tape out yet, but I'm excited to see what it brings. He hit the camp circuit last offseason, so I hope to be able to evaluate him in person either this winter or next summer.    Pass-Catchers:   There were only a couple of people who had the ball thrown their way for the Raptors this season, including [player_tooltip player_id='1576583' first='Leo' last='Stalsberg'], who was mentioned earlier under the QBs tab. The other three standouts, Ali, Knutson, and Tharaldson, all bring a lot to that East Ridge offense.    I spoke very highly about Ali recently, and I will be doing so again. On a team that hasn't thrown the rock very much this year, Ali was the CLEAR WR1, reeling in nearly 4x as many passes as the next closest member of the Raptors WR core. He finished the regular season with 40 balls caught for an impressive 516 yards with a TD, too. He also carried the rock 10 times for 69 yards. His film impressed me, and he's the kind of athlete who could pop off in the playoffs and draw a lot of eyes.     A solid wideout with a great build who played a rotational part in the Raptors' offense this season, Knutson is someone who I could see evolving into a legit starter. On a team that doesn't use a lot of receiver-heavy sets, Knutson managed to record the 3rd most receptions (5) and brought down 71 yards across three games. I'd love to see some tape from this kid, as his frame offers a lot going forward!     Tharaldson reeks of potential, and that 6'7" frame he has doesn't hurt. He didn't have the most productive junior season, catching two balls for 74 yards, but it wouldn't be the first time a TE truly broke out once they hit the next level. There isn't any tape yet from his senior season, but I've caught glimpses of his play, and he's got legit upside as a blocker, too. He holds an offer from St. Thomas, and if they land him, they're getting a prospect with a crazy high ceiling.    OL:   I found tape from 4/5 Raptors offensive line starters, and it's a talented group. Three of those four will return next season, giving East Ridge a crucial boost in the trenches. There is some good size and a lot of tenacity out of this group!    A starting guard for the Raptors this season, Wong already has a litany of film to break down. My favorite thing from his tape was his pass sets. He does an excellent job of moving his feet and can keep bigger defenders square in front of him, stopping their pass-rush instantly. If he gets beat outside, Wong seamlessly switches to running them clear out of the play, giving the QB a perfect lane to step up in. He's got a great skip pull, too, and he's shown that he can work to the second level and make great contact with defenders. I like his physicality, especially when run blocking. I think it's been a stock-raising season from Wong.     The other guard for the Raptors, Galvan, is a physical force when run blocking on his tape. He's super physical at the point of attack and fires off the ball rapidly, quickly displacing defensive linemen from his gap. When he hits someone on a pull, they're going to become irrelevant for the play. He plays with a low pad level and works quickly to the second line of the defense. Galvan is an essential piece of the East Ridge interior, and someone is going to get a game-ready prospect next fall.     Widely regarded as one of the best 2027 offensive linemen in the state, Adam put forth a ton of great tape from his junior season. He was tasked with anchoring the blindside this year, but I could also easily see him sliding into the interior at the next level. He possesses violent down blocks, and if he gets a free release to a DT/DE on one, they're getting flattened. I like his pass-pro a lot as well. He does a great job of keeping a defender in front of him and can successfully pass on or pick up someone on a stunt. He's quick for 250 too, and with another offseason in the lab, Adam could evolve into a premier OL prospect.     The right tackle for the Raptors, Aikins, was one of the most pleasant surprises from the East Ridge regular season. He looks bigger than what he's listed at when you watch his tape, and he's able to stifle a pass-rush quickly by locking out his arms. Throwing moves against him is futile more often than not. I've seen chop attempts from defenders simply not faze him as he continues to stonewall them. He's surprisingly quick when pulling too; he moves like a guard and makes great contact with defenders. Definitely an athlete I'd like to see more of going forward.    Defense:    Minnesota Duluth commit [player_tooltip player_id='1255891' first='Ben' last='Knaup'] was a two-way force for East Ridge this year, and that level of success is very likely to continue into the playoffs. He finished the regular season with 23 total tackles, 4 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, and a forced fumble. On offense, he tallied 196 rushing yards on 44 carries and 2 TDs, as well as an 11-yard reception against White Bear Lake. Knaup is a DL that can challenge even the best linemen in 6A, and should be a problem for teams in the playoffs.     St. Thomas commit Herny Bern was one of the highest-touted athletes on this roster at the start of the season, and through 7 games, he's had a significant impact on both sides of the ball. Heading into the playoffs, he has 373 rushing yards on 61 carries with 7 TDs on the ground, earning himself the RB2 role for the Raptors. On defense, he finished the regular season with 17 total tackles, 5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery. In his film, he's got an explosive first step off the line and can disrupt plays with his forceful bull rush. Big fan of this kid's potential going forward.     A high-yeilding MLB prospect, Gerhardt played an essential role in the East Ridge defense during his senior season. In 7 games, he brought down 28 total tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 PBU. His best games are solid, and if he can be consistent throughout the playoffs while beginning to put out tape, he could be a postseason stock riser.     Another welcome surprise from the 2025 season, Bundgaard came into the season and lit up stat sheets, ending the year as one of the most productive defenders on the team. He finished the season with the 3rd most tackles on the team (34), 2 TFLs, and 2.0 sacks. I'd love to see some film out of the senior, or catch him at a combine this offseason!     A 2025 team captain, Brennan was one of the most impactful members of that East Ridge defense, and he's finally starting to get the recognition he deserves after D3 powerhouse St. Johns sent an offer earlier this fall. He finished his senior year with the second most tackles on the team (38), 3 TFLs, 1 interception, and 3 PBUs. He's got some tape out right now, too. Watching it, you pick up on his athleticism immediately. He's a bigger DB, but that doesn't impact his speed or explosiveness, and paired with great instincts, it's clear that he's a problem for offenses. Hopefully, he'll get a few more MIAC O's this offseason.     Wennerberg was a problem for offenses during his junior campaign, and it looks like that success has carried over into his senior season. Through 8 games, he recorded 17 total tackles, 1 interception, and a stunning 15 PBUs. There isn't any film from this season up yet, but historically, Wennerberg has been great with putting it out around this time, so that'll be something I'll have to dive into once it's posted. He currently holds a UWRF offer, and I'll be pumped to see where he ends up next fall.     The team leader in tackles at the end of the season, Blake Reutter, is a little bit of an enigma. He was statistically one of the most valuable members of the Raptors' defense, tallying 48 total tackles, 2 interceptions, and 8 PBUs in 8 games. BUT he doesn't have any tape out. Reutter's upside as a secondary athlete is attractive, but he requires some in-person evaluation, likely during the playoffs.     A dynamic corner who has put out plenty of tape throughout the season, Halvorson finished his year with 24 total tackles, 1 TFL, and 7 PBUs. He's a corner, but I also love his impact in the run game. Halvorson isn't afraid of collisions and has showcased excellent pursuit more than once on his tape. With solid speed and great tackling, too, Halvorson can provide a lot to college defenses.     A rotational DB for East Ridge, Maguire had a productive senior season, making his impact felt across the stat sheet. He finished the year with 13 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 3 passes defended. His best game of the season came against Minnetonka, where he brought down 5 tackles and had 2 PBUs.

The East Ridge Raptors went 4-4 this season, taking down big wins over Hopkins, White Bear Lake, Roseville, and most impressively, Stillwater. They have a roster loaded with talent, including several current D1 and D2 commits, with other athletes boasting similar talent. They take on Andover in the first round of the 6A playoff bracket on Friday, 10/24.