Week four of the high school football season brought plenty of fireworks across the region, with the spotlight shining brightest on two local powerhouses. The Folsom Bulldogs stormed to a lopsided victory in their home opener while the Oak Ridge Trojans lit up the scoreboard in El Dorado Hills, both delivering statement wins that kept their early-season momentum rolling.
Elsewhere, it was a tougher night for some area teams. Vista del Lago ran into a punishing Oakdale ground game, and Cordova struggled against a sharp Rio Americano squad. But there was also good news out of Orangevale, where Casa Roble continued to prove itself as one of the region’s top contenders by overpowering Nevada Union on the road.
Folsom stomps Sacred Heart Cathedral 49-7
The Folsom Bulldogs left little doubt in their 2025 home opener Friday night at Prairie City Stadium, storming to a 49-7 non-league victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory behind an explosive offense and a relentless defense that forced three interceptions and added a touchdown of its own.
The Bulldogs struck first in the opening quarter after Jason Hill Jr. intercepted a pass deep in Irish territory, setting up quarterback Brody Rudnicki’s 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jameson Powell. Rudnicki kept the momentum going on the next possession, hitting Isaiah Williams on a 12-yard scoring strike to give Folsom a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.
Sacred Heart threatened early in the second quarter but missed a field goal that would have cut into the deficit. Folsom capitalized quickly, with Rudnicki finding Williams again for a 22-yard touchdown to stretch the margin to 21-0. Moments later, defensive back Matsen Wurm snagged another interception, setting up a short field for the Bulldogs. Running back Bronson Bambino punched it in from a yard out, capping another decisive drive and sending Folsom to the locker room ahead 28-0.
The Bulldogs wasted no time adding to their total in the third quarter. Rudnicki connected with Powell again, this time on a 79-yard bomb that electrified the home crowd. On the following possession, linebacker Dylan Wolfe jumped a route and returned an interception 42 yards for a pick-six, extending the margin to 42-0.
Folsom’s offense wasn’t done. Rudnicki delivered his fourth touchdown pass of the night when he found Jayden Padgett streaking downfield for a 65-yard score early in the fourth quarter. That made it 49 unanswered points for the Bulldogs, who dominated both sides of the ball.
Sacred Heart Cathedral managed to avoid the shutout midway through the final period when quarterback Jayden Crane connected with tight end Jared Camara on a 35-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful extra point. But the Irish’s lone score came long after the Bulldogs had secured control.
By night’s end, Folsom had rolled up touchdowns on nearly every offensive possession while its defense repeatedly frustrated Sacred Heart with turnovers and big stops. Rudnicki finished with scoring passes of 9, 12, 22, 79, and 65 yards, while Powell and Williams each hauled in multiple touchdowns. Wolfe’s defensive return and Bambino’s short run rounded out the Bulldogs’ balanced dominance.
The win lifts Folsom to 2-1 on the season and sets the stage for the Bulldogs’ next test in their grueling non-league slate. Sacred Heart Cathedral drops to 2-1 after its first loss of the year.
Folsom honors Ryder Lyons and Vlad Dyakonov as Navy All-Americans
Friday’s home opener also carried a special moment for the Folsom community, as two Bulldogs were officially recognized as 2026 Navy All-Americans. Quarterback Ryder Lyons and offensive lineman Vlad Dyakonov were both presented with their honorary jerseys as part of the Navy All-American Bowl Road to the Dome tour, which visited Folsom High School to celebrate their selection in front of classmates, teammates, family, and friends.
Lyons and Dyakonov will represent Folsom in the prestigious All-American Bowl’s East vs. West matchup on January 10, 2026, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The nationally televised game, broadcast live on NBC and Peacock, marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of an event that has become the premier showcase for high school football talent.
The Road to the Dome tour will celebrate 100 All-Americans nationwide with live and virtual presentations, and Friday’s ceremony placed both Lyons and Dyakonov among an elite group of the nation’s top prep players. The All-American Bowl has a storied history of producing NFL talent, with alumni including hundreds of draft picks, Super Bowl champions, and even Heisman Trophy finalists.
Oak Ridge scores overdue big one over St. Mary’s 56-35
The Oak Ridge Trojans delivered one of their most explosive offensive performances in recent memory Friday night, rolling past St. Mary’s of Stockton 56-35 in front of a packed home crowd.
The junior connection of quarterback Nick Johnson and wide receiver Isaac Pierce proved unstoppable. Johnson, a transfer from Folsom High, and Pierce hooked up for four touchdown passes covering 24, 65, 50 and 21 yards. Pierce wasn’t done there—he later added a 5-yard sweep for his fifth score of the night. Johnson also showed his legs, breaking free for an 18-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Not everything came easy for the Trojans. Johnson tossed two interceptions in the first half, including a pick-six returned 35 yards by Keith Erickson after the Rams had recovered their second onside kick. But Oak Ridge kept piling on points, setting a pace that St. Mary’s could never catch.
The 56 points marked the most the Rams (3-1) have allowed since a 63-7 defeat to Mission Viejo back in 2019, underscoring just how dominant the Trojans’ offense was on this night.
For Oak Ridge, the victory carried added meaning. The last time these two programs met came in the 2017 Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals, when St. Mary’s prevailed 38-31. This time, it was the Trojans who left no doubt.
Oak Ridge improves to 3-1 and solidifies its place among the section’s top teams as league play draws near.
Oakdale overwhelms Vista del Lago 49-17
Vista del Lago struck first on Friday night but couldn’t hold back Oakdale’s relentless ground game as the Mustangs rolled to a 49-17 victory on the road.
The Eagles opened with promise, marching down the field in the first quarter and capping their drive when quarterback connected with Cael Rens on a one-yard touchdown pass. Joseph Ahola’s extra point made it 7-0, and the Vista defense held Oakdale scoreless through the opening frame.
Momentum shifted in the second quarter. Oakdale’s Wes Burford muscled in a four-yard touchdown run to tie the game, then teammate Chase Lopez broke free for an 83-yard scoring dash that electrified the home crowd and put the Mustangs up 14-7. Vista answered with a 20-yard field goal from Ahola to cut the lead to 14-10, but Oakdale responded in waves. Richard Flores added a five-yard rushing score, Burford raced 36 yards for another touchdown, and two Vista interceptions helped Oakdale surge to a 28-10 halftime advantage.
The Mustangs didn’t slow after the break. Burford punched in a three-yard touchdown early in the third, and later quarterback Grant Gardner connected with Flores on a 15-yard touchdown pass before running in another score himself from three yards out. Oakdale’s two-point conversion stretched the lead to 42-10, and by the end of the third it was 49-10.
Vista del Lago found the end zone once more in the fourth, when Ahola broke through with a determined 14-yard rushing touchdown and then added the extra point. But it was too late to mount a comeback against Oakdale’s balanced attack that piled up points on the ground and through the air.
With the loss, Vista del Lago dropped to 1-3 on the season. The Eagles will look to regroup as league play approaches, aiming to build on bright spots from their opening drives and late-game resilience. Oakdale improved to 3-1 and showcased why its physical brand of football continues to thrive in the Valley Oak League.
Cordova shut out by Rio Americano in tough home loss
RANCHO CORDOVA – The Cordova Lancers hit the field Friday night hoping to build on their early momentum this season, but instead ran into a determined Rio Americano team that handed them a decisive 47-0 loss on their home field.
The Raiders wasted no time taking control of the matchup, finding the end zone multiple times in the opening half while their defense stood tall and kept Cordova’s offense from gaining traction. By halftime, Rio Americano had already built a commanding lead that the Lancers were unable to chip away at.
Cordova entered the contest with a 1-1 record after last week’s win but struggled to find answers on either side of the ball against Rio Americano’s balanced attack. The Raiders improved to 1-2 with the victory while the Lancers fell to 1-2, looking ahead to regroup as they continue their non-league schedule.
Despite the lopsided score, Cordova’s sideline and fans kept the energy high throughout the night, showing their continued pride and support for Big Red. With league play still around the corner, the Lancers have plenty of season left to recover and make a push toward stronger results.
Casa Roble powers past Nevada Union with 39-14 road win
GRASS VALLEY – The Casa Roble Rams of Orangevale showed why they’re one of the region’s teams to watch Friday night, rolling to a 39-14 victory over Nevada Union in a non-league matchup.
Casa Roble built a 26-14 lead by halftime, then controlled the second half on both sides of the ball to secure the win. The Rams wasted no time after the break, as quarterback Aidan Lopez connected with Jaylan Barcenas for a 25-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to push the margin to 32-14. Nevada Union’s offense struggled to find answers, with a promising drive ending in a fumble that Casa Roble’s AJ Ale recovered to swing momentum firmly back to the visitors.
Barcenas continued his standout night in the fourth quarter, breaking free for a 12-yard touchdown run that extended the Rams’ advantage to 39-14. Raul Menera added the extra point to cap the scoring. The Rams’ defense tightened from there, forcing turnovers on downs and limiting the Miners’ attempts to rally late in the game.
With the win, Casa Roble improves its mark while handing Nevada Union a tough home loss in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 fans. The Rams’ blend of big-play offense and opportunistic defense proved too much for the Miners, who were unable to match the scoring pace after the first half.
Bella Vista tops Del Campo in Fair Oaks showdown, 34-20
The Bella Vista Broncos jumped out to an early lead and never looked back Friday night, defeating neighborhood rival Del Campo 34-20 in a spirited non-league game on their home field.
The Broncos lit up the scoreboard in the opening quarter, led by the explosive running of Dvaughn Norwood. Norwood broke loose for two rushing touchdowns in the first period, putting Bella Vista up early. Quarterback Jack Singley added to the surge before the quarter closed, finding Christian Taylor on a 35-yard strike that gave the Broncos a 20-7 advantage after the first 12 minutes.
Del Campo showed grit with a 10-yard touchdown run from Everett Dahl in the second quarter, cutting into the deficit, but Bella Vista answered once again. Norwood’s third rushing touchdown of the half extended the Broncos’ lead to 27-13 at the break.
The defenses held through a scoreless third quarter before Del Campo’s Bryce Smith powered in from 20 yards out midway through the fourth, making it a one-score game at 27-20. But Bella Vista’s offense sealed the win in the final minutes. After a long run from Hugo Lopez set up the red zone, Singley capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to close the door on the Cougars.
Bella Vista improved to 2-2 on the season with the victory, while Del Campo dropped to 1-3. Both teams will turn their focus to league play in the coming weeks after this high-energy Fair Oaks clash.
Friday Night High School Football Scores – September 12, 2025
Bear River 48, Bear Creek 20
Bella Vista 34, Del Campo 20
Biggs 27, Highlands 0
Buhach Colony 26, Ceres 9
California 35, Monterey Trail 21
Cardinal Newman 49, Armijo 0
Casa Roble 39, Nevada Union 14
Central Catholic 15, St. Bonaventure 14
Central East 55, Edison 17
Chavez 48, Bear Creek 20
Escalon 35, Lodi 28
East Nicolaus 26, Marysville 18
Foresthill 29, Vacaville Christian 26
Folsom 49, Sacred Heart Cathedral 7
Franklin (Elk Grove) 52, Davis Sr. 7
Granite Bay 42, Ponderosa 7
Hilmar 52, Atwater 28
Hughson 28, Linden 21
Inderkum 31, Destiny Christian Academy 20
Kimball 22, Mountain House 15
Lincoln 44, Pleasant Grove 22
Mariposa County 40, Sierra 0
Oakdale 49, Vista del Lago 17
Oakmont 40, River Valley 6
Oak Ridge 56, St. Mary’s (Stockton) 35
Pierce 23, Lincoln (Lincoln, CA) 21
Placer 31, Antelope 0
Reed (NV) 42, West Park 35
Rio Americano 47, Cordova 0
Ripon Christian 40, Mesa Verde 14
Sacramento 51, Cosumnes Oaks 21
Sierra 58, Sheldon 13
Sonora 35, Turlock 24
Stagg 47, Franklin (Stockton) 0
Summerville 58, Johnson 0
Sutter 42, Bradshaw Christian 21
Twelve Bridges 42, Arroyo Grande 41
Vacaville 27, El Cerrito 13
Valley Christian 51, Florin 6
Vintage 36, Wood 15
Wheatland 53, Woodland 16
Woodcreek 21, Roseville 11
Yuba City 27, Chico 6
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