Quarterback Johnny Ericson completed three touchdown passes while Evan Standish and Zach Schwab ran for one each as the Lacombe Rams defeated the Lindsay Thurber Raiders 35-21 on Friday night.

After a scoreless opening quarter, the Raiders struck first early in the second, with Kade Best making an eight-yard touchdown reception.

Standish's six-yard touchdown run tied the game before Thurber regained the lead with a 42-yard run from Sean Vandervlis.

The Rams tied the game 14-14 at halftime thanks to the first of two touchdown catches by Simon Gray, whom Ericson also connected with for the two-point conversion.

Receiver Richard Jans, who caught a touchdown in the third quarter and led the team with 85 receiving yards, was not worried about what he saw as another slow start for the Rams.

To him, it's been about how the team finishes.

"It's been kind of the norm this year for us. We always start out a little slow but we're a second half team. We know we can beat any team in this league. So we're confident," Jans said.

Schwab and Standish combined for 173 rushing yards.

"Second quarter came, we really established our running game and... it opened up our passing game," said Rams head coach Jason Petrie.

The Rams play the Notre Dame Cougars on Friday night in their first playoff game. Kickoff at 6 p.m. at MEGlobal Athletic Park.