See video highlights of Friday’s Folsom, Oak Ridge game HERE
FOLSOM – For nearly two quarters Friday night, Oak Ridge made it look like this might finally be the year. The Trojans chewed clock, converted first downs, and walked into halftime with a lead, forcing Folsom to play from behind in front of a nearly packed Prairie City Stadium. But the Bulldogs flipped the script after the break, scoring 21 unanswered points and slamming the door with defensive pressure to earn a 28-9 victory in front of more than 5,000 fans.
Oak Ridge’s opening drive set the tone. After fielding the kickoff at their own 26-yard line, the Trojans methodically marched the length of the field. They picked up a first down at the 45, converted another at the Folsom 43, and then chipped away with steady gains to the 29, the 18, and finally the six. Twice they moved the sticks on third down, controlling possession for nearly the entire quarter. With just a minute left, they powered in a one-yard touchdown run to silence the crowd. The extra point missed, but the Trojans’ message was clear: they had come ready to challenge the Bulldogs.
Folsom tried to answer quickly, with quarterback Ryder Lyons hitting Jayden Padgett on a long pass that reached the 39-yard line late in the first quarter. But the Bulldogs still trailed 6-0 heading into the second.
Early in the period, Lyons found rhythm. Driving into the red zone, he capped a series with a 15-yard strike to Jameson Powell. The point after gave Folsom its first lead at 7-6, but it didn’t last long. Oak Ridge’s defense forced a turnover on downs near midfield, then pushed deep into Bulldog territory again. With just under two minutes before halftime, kicker Kyle Boeker drilled a 31-yard field goal to put Oak Ridge back in front, 9-7.
The final moments before the half added more tension. Folsom took over at its own 30 and moved to the Trojan 47 before stalling on downs. Oak Ridge looked ready to build on its lead but turned the ball over on an interception by Bulldog defender Matsen Wurm in the closing seconds.
Folsom opened the third quarter with the ball at its own 20 and gained ground to the 36, but a stalled series and a punt sent possession back to Oak Ridge. When the Trojans moved into Bulldog territory again, the defense delivered the turning point. With eight minutes left in the quarter, Travis Beatty jumped a route for an interception at the Folsom 42. Moments later, Lyons found Isaiah Williams streaking downfield for a 43-yard touchdown. Just like that, the Bulldogs had reclaimed the lead, 14-9.
The defense wasn’t done. On Oak Ridge’s next possession, Daniel Eagleton snatched another interception and set Folsom up at the Trojan 39. Lyons went right back to the air, hitting Rob Larson for a 39-yard touchdown pass that stretched the lead to 21-9. In the span of just a few minutes, the Bulldogs had completely flipped the momentum.
Oak Ridge tried to respond, advancing to its own 36 before the end of the third quarter, but the Bulldogs’ defense continued to hold firm. Then came the knockout blow. Early in the fourth, Folsom was pinned deep at its own 10-yard line after an Oak Ridge punt. On the very next play, Lyons uncorked an 84-yard bomb to Jason Hill Jr., who outran the secondary and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. The extra point made it 28-9 and left no doubt.
The rest of the night belonged to Folsom’s defense. Lua Deberry broke through for a sack at the Oak Ridge 26. On the next Trojan series, August Dupree added another sack, followed immediately by Gavin Murphy, who dropped the quarterback at the 37. Those back-to-back hits left Oak Ridge reeling and punctuated a second half in which the Trojans never came close to scoring again.
When the final horn sounded, Folsom had secured its 24th straight win over Oak Ridge, a streak stretching back to 2006, and improved to 5-1 overall, 2-0 in Sierra Foothill League play. Oak Ridge fell to 4-2 and 2-1 but left the field knowing they had again pushed the Bulldogs harder than most league opponents can.
For a half, it looked like the rivalry might finally take a new turn. But Folsom once again flipped the script, its defense slammed the door, and another chapter was written in one of the region’s most storied high school football showdowns.
Vista del Lago battles but Inderkum pulls away in 45-17 loss
FOLSOM — For a quarter, Vista del Lago looked like it was ready to stand toe-to-toe with one of the Capital Valley Conference’s perennial powers. The Eagles struck first and answered back with big plays, but in the end Inderkum’s offensive arsenal was too much. The visiting Tigers used a second-quarter scoring surge to take control and pulled away late for a 45-17 victory Friday night.
Vista’s night began with promise. After moving the ball deep into Inderkum territory on its opening drive, the Eagles struck first when kicker Joseph Ahola drilled a 34-yard field goal to make it 3-0 midway through the first quarter. It was an early lift against an Inderkum defense that has made scoring difficult for many opponents this season.
The Tigers answered in the final minute of the quarter when quarterback Brody Cole found LeAndrew Jenkins on a 12-yard touchdown pass. The two-point try failed, and Inderkum held a 6-3 lead at the end of the first.
The second quarter proved decisive. Inderkum’s Marco Gutierrez extended the lead with a 29-yard field goal, but Vista countered with one of its top highlights of the night. Quarterback Jacoby More delivered a 27-yard touchdown pass to Luke Roberts, cutting the deficit to 16-10 and giving the Eagles momentum.
Inderkum responded quickly and in bunches. Cole connected with Jacob Stoll on a 3-yard touchdown pass, then Xavier Costley powered in from four yards out before Josiah Amey added a two-point run. A Vista turnover set the Tigers up again just before halftime, and Cole hit Stoll for his second score of the quarter. By the break, Inderkum had stretched its advantage to 31-10.
Vista showed fight coming out of the locker room. In the third quarter, Jack Cromwell broke free for a 25-yard rushing touchdown to make it 38-17. The defense stepped up as well, forcing a turnover on downs and later recovering a fumble near midfield. But the Tigers’ offense continued to produce, as Cole struck again in the fourth quarter, finding Amey for a late touchdown to close the scoring at 45-17.
Vista finished with points on a field goal, a passing touchdown and Cromwell’s rushing score, along with several key defensive stands. Despite the loss, the Eagles showed grit and playmaking ability against a state-ranked Inderkum squad, flashes they will look to build upon as conference play continues.
Granite Bay edges Del Oro in one-point thriller, 14-13
The Granite Bay Grizzlies survived a late charge from the Del Oro Golden Eagles to win 14-13 in a Sierra Foothill League battle Friday night, a game where every turnover, punt, and missed kick shaped the outcome.
Both teams opened the night trading early drives that stalled near midfield. Granite Bay moved the ball to the Del Oro 45 on its first series but punted after failing to convert on third down. Del Oro answered with a possession to its own 32, only to stall and return the ball on a punt. The first quarter ticked down with both defenses holding strong. Granite Bay pushed back across midfield as the clock wound under a minute, but a costly mistake swung momentum. The Grizzlies fumbled, and Del Oro’s Jamison French scooped it up and raced 52 yards for a touchdown. Reid Elam added the extra point, giving the Golden Eagles a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Granite Bay regrouped quickly in the second. Starting near midfield, the Grizzlies pieced together a steady drive, reaching the Del Oro four-yard line. Running back Brody Walker punched it in from three yards out, and kicker Jimmy Deslaurier tied the game 7-7. The next series brought the loudest cheer of the night from the home crowd when Isaiah Ene burst through a crease and sprinted 85 yards to the end zone, flipping the game and putting Granite Bay ahead 14-7 after Deslaurier’s extra point.
Del Oro tried to counter immediately. Running back Brock Sherman ripped off a long run that advanced the Golden Eagles deep into Grizzly territory, but the drive stalled and ended in a punt. With under a minute left in the half, Del Oro returned to Granite Bay’s 33 with a chance to even the score. That chance was cut short when Ene stepped in front of a pass for an interception, halting the threat and sending Granite Bay to halftime ahead 14-7.
The Golden Eagles opened the third quarter with determination. A strong drive pushed inside the 25, but Del Oro’s field goal attempt missed wide, keeping the deficit at seven. Their defense gave them another shot when Chase Carmazzi intercepted a Granite Bay pass near midfield. This time Del Oro capitalized, grinding the ball down to the 21 before Nolen Sauve dashed in for a touchdown. The score cut the lead to one, but the crucial point-after attempt missed, leaving Granite Bay clinging to a 14-13 advantage.
From there, both defenses stiffened. Granite Bay tried to build breathing room with a clock-consuming drive in the fourth quarter, stringing together first downs until they reached the Del Oro two-yard line. The Eagles’ defense came up huge, stuffing the Grizzlies on fourth down and giving their offense the ball back with just over two minutes to play.
Pinned at their own six, Del Oro inched out to the 32 and later to the 21 after a brief setback, but time was not on their side. The final seconds melted away as Granite Bay’s defense closed ranks, sealing the 14-13 victory.
Every possession mattered in this one. French’s fumble return put Del Oro in front early, Walker and Ene powered Granite Bay’s second-quarter surge, Ene’s interception kept points off the board before halftime, Carmazzi’s takeaway gave Del Oro life in the third, and Sauve’s touchdown made it a one-point game. But in the end, Del Oro’s missed field goal and missed extra point loomed largest, the difference between a comeback tie or win and a crushing one-point defeat.
Casa Roble rolls past Rio Linda 32-13 with balanced attack
The Casa Roble Rams of Orangevale used a fast start and steady finish to defeat the Rio Linda Knights 32-13 on the road Friday night, a Tri-County Conference contest that featured big passing plays, hard running and key defensive stops.
Rio Linda opened with the ball and tried to set an early tone, but its first possession stalled and turned over on downs at the Casa Roble 45-yard line. The Rams wasted no time capitalizing. Quarterback Aidan Lopez connected with Jaylan Barcenas on a 27-yard touchdown strike midway through the first quarter, and Raul Menera’s extra point made it 7-0. After Rio Linda punted on its next drive, Lopez went back to the air, hitting Felix Rodriguez on a long pass that set up another score. This time Lopez found Tariq Lofton from 10 yards out to extend the lead. Menera again was good on the point after, giving Casa Roble a 14-0 advantage after one.
The Knights answered in the second quarter. Running back Louis Means powered into the end zone on an eight-yard run to cut the deficit to 14-6, then tacked on the extra point to make it 14-7 with nine minutes left in the half. Rio Linda looked poised to tie the game minutes later when it took possession at the Casa Roble 15-yard line, but the Rams’ defense stiffened and forced a turnover on downs at their own 11. Casa Roble nearly added points late in the quarter when Lopez hit Karter Coss on a deep ball to the Rio Linda 26, but the drive ended in a missed field goal attempt. The Rams carried a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Casa Roble struck again in the third quarter. Barcenas, who had already caught a touchdown, showcased his legs with a 27-yard scoring run to push the lead to 20-7. The extra point attempt missed, but the Rams had regained control. On Rio Linda’s next series, Casa Roble’s Dunedin Tupou delivered a sack that forced a punt, and the defenses traded possessions as the game moved to the fourth quarter with Casa Roble still in front 20-7.
Rio Linda gave its home crowd new life early in the fourth. Means, who had already scored once on the ground, connected with Joseph Kalanui on a one-yard touchdown pass to bring the Knights within 20-13. But the point after attempt missed, leaving it a one-score game. Casa Roble answered immediately. Lopez launched a long pass to Kymani Burkes that set the Rams up at the one-yard line, and Rodriguez finished the drive with a short rushing touchdown. Another missed extra point left the score 26-13, but the momentum had swung firmly back to Casa Roble.
The Rams weren’t finished. Rio Linda punted again, and Lopez went back to work with two more deep completions — first to Lofton to the 30-yard line and then to Rodriguez down to the one. Barcenas capped the drive with his second touchdown of the night, a one-yard run that put Casa Roble ahead 32-13. The two-point try failed, but the Rams had broken the game open. Rio Linda’s final drive ended on downs near midfield, sealing Casa Roble’s win.
Lopez led the way through the air with three touchdown passes, two of them in the first quarter, while Barcenas added both a receiving and rushing score and Rodriguez contributed in both phases as well. Means carried the offensive load for Rio Linda, accounting for both of the Knights’ touchdowns.
With the victory, Casa Roble improved its standing in league play and showcased the kind of balance that makes the Rams dangerous heading into the heart of the season. Rio Linda, meanwhile, showed flashes of resilience but was ultimately undone by missed opportunities, including a failed fourth-down chance deep in Casa Roble territory and a missed kick that could have kept the game closer.
Sac Joaquin Section Regional Scoreboard Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 (10:45 pm)
Amador Christian 27, Amador 14
Bear River 28, Lincoln 27
Bella Vista 28, Rio Americano 35
Big Valley Christian 26, Bret Harte 21
Bradshaw Christian 27, Amador 14
Calaveras 21, Summerville 7
Casa Roble 32, Rio Linda 13
Center 26, Oakmont 27
Chavez 63, West 0
Chico 27, Elk Grove 17
Del Campo 26, Placer 42
Destiny Christian Academy 6, Grant 42
Downey 45, Gregori 8
East Union 55, Oakdale 71
Edison 38, Tracy 19
Escalon 6, Hughson 29
Florin 26, Turlock Christian 18
Foothill 58, Johnson 31
Folsom 28, Oak Ridge 9
Franklin 59, Sheldon 0
Golden Valley 6, Merced 51
Granite Bay 14, Del Oro 13
Grace Davis 24, Livingston 13
Highlands 22, Golden Sierra 20
Hughson 29, Escalon 6
Inderkum 45, Vista del Lago 17
Laguna Creek 30, Cosumnes Oaks 14
Lathrop 44, Ceres 7
Le Grand 21, Denair 49
Lincoln 48, Kimball 3
Linden 32, River Islands 20
Los Banos 42, El Capitan 21
Manteca 74, Sierra 7
Mariposa County 42, Delhi 13McClatchy____, Cordova____ *
Merced 51, Golden Valley 6
Monterey Trail 35, Pleasant Grove 0
Natomas 21, Woodland 26
Oakdale 71, East Union 55
Oakmont 27, Center 26
Patterson 49, Mountain House 13
Pitman 29, Modesto 12
Placer 42, Del Campo 26
Rio Americano 35, Bella Vista 28
Rio Vista 49, Esparto 6
Ripon 49, Orestimba 0
Rocklin 53, Whitney 20
Rosemont 49, Union Mine 22
Roseville 8, Yuba City 0
Sheldon 0, Franklin 59
Sonora 22, Hilmar 21
Stagg 43, Bear Creek 15
Stone Ridge Christian 48, Waterford 16
Sutter 62, El Camino 0
Tokay 36, Franklin (EG) 0
Turlock 43, Enochs 6
Twelve Bridges 56, Nevada Union 17
Vacaville 7, Vanden 6
Vacaville Christian 51, Valley 0
West Park 42, Antelope 7
Whitney 20, Rocklin 53
Woodcreek 52, Christian Brothers 7
Woodland 26, Natomas 21
Woodland Christian 42, Mesa Verde 8
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