Casa Roble, Granite Bay also notch playoff victories and will advance into championship weekend
Friday night delivered another defining moment for high school football in the Folsom and El Dorado Hills communities, as both local powerhouses earned their way back to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game. The Bulldogs and Trojans, long-standing rivals separated by just a few miles, each secured semifinal victories that now set up a fourth consecutive championship meeting between the programs. For players, coaches, and fans on both sides of the corridor, it has become one of the region’s most anticipated annual showdowns—one built on pride, consistency, and the rising expectations that come with sustained success.
Both teams arrived at this point through very different semifinal scripts. Folsom executed a high-powered, multi-phase performance at Prairie City Stadium, while Oak Ridge battled through a defensive struggle at home in El Dorado Hills. Yet the result was the same: two familiar contenders standing at the top of the bracket once again, ready to face off for the title.
As the playoffs narrow to their final stage, the championship will once again run through two schools that have shaped much of the region’s recent postseason history. For the fourth straight year, Folsom and Oak Ridge will play for the Section crown.
Folsom stomps Monterey Trail 54–14
The Bulldogs scored early, continued to capitalize on turnovers, and delivered touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams to control the matchup from start to finish at Prairie City Stadium. Folsom opened the night by capitalizing on an early turnover. After the Mustangs fumbled deep in their own territory, EJ Coleman recovered the ball at the 5-yard line. One play later, Ryder Lyons rushed in for a touchdown less than a minute into regulation.
Monterey Trail answered with a long drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Nigel Flowers, tying the game 7–7. On the ensuing kickoff, Jason Hill Jr. returned the ball 90 yards for a touchdown to restore the Bulldogs’ lead. Folsom’s defense continued to force key stops, including a turnover on downs late in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Lyons added a 14-yard rushing touchdown. Minutes later, Coleman returned a Monterey Trail fumble 60 yards for a defensive touchdown. Lyons added a 3-yard touchdown before halftime, sending Folsom into the break ahead 33–7.
Two minutes into the third quarter, Lyons added another short rushing touchdown. He later connected with Rob Larson on a 32-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback Brody Rudnicki entered late in the third and delivered a 61-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Angel. Monterey Trail added a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but Folsom controlled the remainder of the game.
Oak Ridge edges Grant 9–7 in defensive thriller
In a playoff game defined by defensive stops, field position battles, and long stretches without scoring, the Oak Ridge Trojans found just enough in the final minute to defeat Grant 9–7 and return to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game. A 30-yard field goal by Kyle Boeker in the closing seconds sealed the win in a game that looked to be going the other way.
The two teams traded punts and defensive stands throughout a scoreless first half. Grant opened the game from its own 20-yard line, but each drive stalled as Oak Ridge matched the Pacers’ physicality. The Trojans forced multiple punts and overcame an interception late in the second quarter when Malichi Harris picked off an Oak Ridge pass at the Grant 20-yard line. Still, neither team managed to break through before halftime, sending both sides into the locker room tied 0–0.
The defensive struggle continued deep into the third quarter. After another series of punts, Oak Ridge finally shifted momentum with a long run by quarterback Jasen Womack that pushed the Trojans deep into Grant territory. Starting from the Pacers’ 8-yard line, Tyler Andujar capped the drive with an 8-yard rushing touchdown—the first points of the game—with 3 minutes left in the third. The extra point was missed, leaving Oak Ridge ahead 6–0.
Grant answered quickly in the fourth quarter, moving the ball to the Oak Ridge 6-yard line before Afulu Siona powered in for a touchdown. The successful PAT gave Grant a 7–6 lead with 10 minutes remaining, setting up a tense final stretch.
Oak Ridge’s offense, quiet for much of the night, responded with its most important drive of the season. The Trojans steadily advanced the ball from their own 20 to the Grant 14-yard line with just over a minute to play. After reaching the 13 on third down, Oak Ridge called on Boeker, who delivered the biggest kick of his career—a 30-yard field goal that put the Trojans ahead 9–7 with seconds remaining.
The kick held as the game-winner, sending Oak Ridge back to the championship stage for the fourth straight year.
Folsom and Oak Ridge will meet for the Section Division I title next Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Sacramento State.
Granite Bay holds off Rocklin 24–21 to advance in thriller
Granite Bay earned a hard-fought 24–21 win over Rocklin on Friday night in a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game that saw momentum swing repeatedly on a cold, wet field in front of more than 1,000 fans. The Grizzlies built a 17–0 halftime lead before Rocklin mounted a strong second-half comeback, pushing the game to the final minutes before Granite Bay’s defense delivered the stop it needed.
The Grizzlies opened the game with steady field position and took a 7–0 lead in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Granite Bay capitalized on two turnovers on downs by Rocklin, the second of which set up a short-field scoring opportunity. With eight minutes remaining in the half,Isaiah Enepowered in for a 2-yard rushing touchdown, andJimmy Deslaurieradded the PAT for a 14–0 lead.
Granite Bay added to the momentum with multiple long runs, later setting up Deslaurier for a 45-yard field goal in the final minute of the half. His kick pushed the Grizzlies ahead 17–0 at halftime.
Rocklin responded quickly after the break. With seven minutes left in the third quarter, the Thunder scored on a passing touchdown and converted the PAT to cut the deficit to 17–7. After forcing a punt, Rocklin continued its push, scoring again on a rushing touchdown with two minutes left in the third quarter and trimming the score to 17–14.
Granite Bay answered on the next possession when Ene broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the third quarter. Deslaurier’s PAT pushed the Grizzlies’ lead to 24–14 entering the fourth.
Rocklin continued to battle. With seven minutes remaining,Connor Bowconnected withReeve Slonefor a 30-yard touchdown, pulling Rocklin within three points at 24–21. The Thunder forced another Granite Bay punt and took over at their own 32-yard line with roughly three minutes remaining.
The Grizzlies’ defense, which had played bend-but-don’t-break football for much of the second half, responded again. With just over a minute left, Rocklin turned the ball over on downs at the Granite Bay 26-yard line, allowing the Grizzlies to run out the clock and secure the 24–21 victory.
Orangevale’s Casa Roble defeats Lathrop 28–15 to advance
Roble used a combination of defensive stops, long offensive plays, and a steady second-half surge to defeat Lathrop 28–15 in Friday night’s home playoff game in Orangevale. The Rams scored in all phases of the game and overcame several early stalls to pull away late, reaching four touchdowns on the night before sealing the win with a fourth-quarter drive.
The game began with both defenses setting the tone. Lathrop opened from its own 29-yard line and crossed midfield on its first drive, but Casa Roble forced a punt and took over at its own 14. Running backJaylan Barcenasthen broke back-to-back long runs, pushing the Rams inside the Lathrop 10. But the drive ended empty when Casa turned the ball over on downs at the 4-yard line. The Rams later closed out the first quarter with another defensive stop after a series of tackles for loss and pressure in the backfield.
Casa Roble continued controlling momentum early in the second quarter.Lucas Wolvertonrecorded a tackle for loss at the Lathrop 10, andAJ Alefollowed with a sack on the next play. After a punt, quarterbackAidan Lopezconnected withTariq Loftonon a long pass to move the ball into Spartan territory, but another turnover on downs kept the game scoreless.
The breakthrough came with two minutes left in the first half whenEric Eatonrecovered a Lathrop fumble and returned it 50 yards for the first touchdown of the game.Raul Meneraadded the PAT to make it 7–0. Moments later,Karter Cossintercepted a pass near midfield, allowing Casa Roble to take a 7–0 lead into halftime.
The Rams returned to the field in the third quarter and took control quickly. After Lathrop tied the game at 7–7 on a 12-yard touchdown run byPablo Pena, Lofton responded immediately with a long kickoff return to the Lathrop 45. On the next play, Barcenas sprinted through the line for a 45-yard rushing touchdown, putting Casa Roble back in front 14–7 after Menera’s PAT.
Casa’s defense responded with another key sequence asDunedin Tupourecorded a tackle for loss. The Rams then mounted another drive, with Lopez connecting on long passes toMason Higbyand Lofton to move inside the Lathrop 20. After a holding penalty pushed the Rams back, Lopez hitBerquist Gunnarfor an 11-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Menera’s extra point extended the lead to 21–7.
Lathrop opened the fourth quarter by driving to the Casa Roble 7-yard line. Pena scored his second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run, then added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 21–15 with seven minutes remaining. But Casa Roble answered with a critical drive of its own. After moving the ball inside the Lathrop 5 on a long pass from Lopez to Lofton, Barcenas finished the possession with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Menera’s PAT pushed the lead to 28–15 with just under three minutes left.
Lathrop made one final push inside the final minute, advancing as far as the Casa Roble 9-yard line. But the Rams held firm on four straight plays, forcing a turnover on downs at the 1 to end the Spartans’ final threat and secure the win.
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