The St. Raphael Academy Saints went to Cranston Stadium on Friday night and edged out the Thunderbolts 7-3 under the lights in Division I football.

East drew a 3-0 lead, 3:30 into the contest, after Aaron Fonseca, a senior kicker, buried a field goal from 35 yards out. That field goal was set up by Tyler Pinckney, a junior wide receiver and defensive back, who returned the game’s opening kickoff 53 yards to the St. Rays 38.

“We made progress,” East head coach Tom Centore said. “We had a good week of practice. That’s a tough football team. But I thought we made progress in certain parts of the game. But we certainly have things we need to work on. So, we’ll just continue to build on what we have to do.”

The Saints took a 6-3 advantage with 4:29 remaining in the second quarter when Andre Gray, a sophomore quarterback, plowed a keeper 20 yards up the middle and into pay dirt.

After that, Adam Gomes, a senior, added the extra point and extended the Saints lead to 7-3.

The Bolts fall to 0-3 in D-I with the loss and host East Providence (1-2) at Cranston Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m.

“East Providence is a tough football team and hopefully we’ll get better and just play harder again next week,” Centore said. “So, that’s all we’re going to ask for.”