That rugged Eastern League schedule is paying dividends for the South Gate High School football team.

The Rams, who finished fourth behind Division I playoff qualifiers Garfield, Roosevelt and South East, are the circuit’s lone survivor in the postseason that has reached the semifinal round.

South Gate (7-5), which handed previously unbeaten Eagle Rock a 30-7 thrashing last week in the quarterfinals, visits Granada Hills (7-5) in a Division II final four matchup. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The winner takes on the winner between No. 1 San Fernando and Chatsworth for the title next week at East L.A. College.

To get this far, the Rams steamrolled over two Northern League teams (62-22 over Lincoln and Eagle Rock).

Their one-two running punch of Lavell Thompson and Alexander Flatos have carried them this far. Thompson, the City’s third-leading rusher, has 2,061 yards and 29 touchdowns on 164 carries. Flatos has 114 carries for 1,256 yards and 13 scores.

Last week, Thompson rushed for 168 yards and a TD and Flatos for 148 yards and two scores.

Granada Hills has displayed balance between the run and the pass.

Senior Xavier Salazar has run for 1,560 yards and 14 TDs on 266 carries and junior Ramon Johnson has completed 137 of 209 passes for 2,109 yards and 23 TDs with just three interceptions to lead the Highlanders on that side of the ball. Johnson had four scoring passes in last week’s 37-6 win over Grant.

Linebacker Jonathan Pena had 13 solo tackles, six for loss, against Grant.