Lancers surge past Sheldon with 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points; Folsom prevails in overtime, Oak Ridge rallies in Texas and Vista del Lago falls at Granite Bay
RANCHO CORDOVA — A new season brought a winning start for the Cordova Lancers Friday night, as a strong fourth-quarter surge carried Cordova past Sheldon and highlighted the opening night of the 2026 high school football season across the region.
After a challenging 2025 campaign, Cordova started the new year on a positive note in front of its home crowd. The Lancers entered the fourth quarter trailing Sheldon 16-12 before scoring 21 unanswered points, including a defensive touchdown, to pull away for a 33-16 victory.
Cordova capitalized on a dominant fourth quarter to pull away from Sheldon for a 33-16 nonleague victory at Cordova High School.
The Lancers entered the final quarter trailing by four points before scoring three unanswered touchdowns, including a defensive score, to turn what had been a back-and-forth opener into a 17-point victory. Cordova overcame an early Sheldon lead and several momentum swings along the way, with the Lancers’ defense producing key stops and turnovers while the offense found its rhythm as the game progressed.
Sheldon struck first in the opening quarter, finishing an early drive with a 4-yard rushing touchdown and adding the two-point conversion for an 8-0 advantage. Cordova answered before the quarter ended, moving the ball downfield on a sustained drive and punching it across from the 1-yard line. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving Sheldon in front 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter brought turnovers by both teams. Sheldon intercepted a Cordova pass early in the period, but the Lancers later came up with a takeaway of their own at a critical time. With less than two minutes remaining before halftime, Cordova recovered a Sheldon fumble at the Huskies’ 19-yard line and quickly turned the short field into points, scoring on a 5-yard run to move ahead 12-8. A two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but Cordova carried the four-point advantage into halftime.
Sheldon responded in the third quarter. After the Huskies were stopped on downs deep in Cordova territory earlier in the period, they struck for the biggest offensive play of the night, connecting on a 68-yard touchdown pass. A successful two-point conversion put Sheldon back in front 16-12 with roughly six minutes remaining in the third.
Cordova then put together a drive that ultimately changed the direction of the game. Beginning deep in its own territory late in the third quarter, the Lancers methodically worked their way downfield. They crossed midfield before the quarter ended and reached the Sheldon 22-yard line as time expired, setting up the go-ahead opportunity to begin the fourth.
Cordova finished the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown early in the final period. The extra point gave the Lancers a 19-16 advantage, their first lead since halftime.
On Sheldon’s ensuing possession, Cordova’s defense delivered another major play, intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown. The extra point stretched the lead to 26-16, giving the Lancers two touchdowns in rapid succession and putting Sheldon in its first two-score deficit of the night.
The Huskies attempted to answer, moving toward midfield on their next possession, but Cordova’s defense again came up with the stop. Sheldon turned the ball over on downs near midfield with approximately seven minutes remaining, allowing the Lancers to take possession with an opportunity to put the game away.
Cordova took over at its own 49-yard line and mounted a long drive that consumed much of the remaining clock. The Lancers moved steadily into Sheldon territory, reached the red zone and eventually scored on a 3-yard run in the final minutes. The extra point completed the scoring at 33-16.
The fourth-quarter surge capped a night in which Cordova repeatedly responded after Sheldon appeared ready to take control. After falling behind 8-0 in the opening quarter, the Lancers scored 12 unanswered points to take the halftime lead. When Sheldon reclaimed the advantage with its long touchdown pass in the third quarter, Cordova answered with 21 consecutive points to close the game.
The Lancers also came up with several significant defensive plays, including a first-half fumble recovery that led directly to a touchdown, multiple fourth-down stops and the fourth-quarter interception return for a score.
Folsom opens title defense with 23-17 overtime thriller over Cardinal Newman
FOLSOM — The defending state champion Folsom Bulldogs opened the 2026 football season Friday night with about as much drama as an opening game could deliver.
Folsom overcame an early 10-point deficit, survived a potential game-winning field goal attempt in the final minute and then finished the job in overtime, defeating Cardinal Newman 23-17 at Folsom High School.
The Bulldogs entered the season following their 2025 CIF Division 1-AA state championship run, but Cardinal Newman quickly made it clear the opener would be anything but easy.
The Cardinals controlled much of the opening quarter, moving into Folsom territory on their first possession before settling for a 40-yard field goal and a 3-0 advantage.
After forcing a Folsom punt, Cardinal Newman went back to work with favorable field position. The Cardinals drove to the Folsom 20 and eventually reached the end zone on a 10-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point gave the visitors a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Folsom began finding its footing as the game moved into the second.
The Bulldogs put together their first sustained scoring drive, moving from their own end of the field deep into Cardinal Newman territory. A 6-yard touchdown pass capped the possession, and the extra point pulled Folsom within 10-7 with just over 10 minutes remaining before halftime.
From there, the Bulldogs’ defense began changing the complexion of the game.
Folsom recorded a sack on Cardinal Newman’s ensuing possession and forced a punt. The Bulldogs later pinned the Cardinals deep in their own territory, forced another punt and took over near midfield.
Folsom threatened to take the lead late in the half, driving inside the Cardinal Newman 20 before an interception ended the opportunity. The Bulldogs’ defense responded with another sack, and special teams came through just before halftime by blocking a Cardinal Newman kick attempt.
The Cardinals carried their 10-7 advantage into the locker room, but that lead disappeared almost immediately when play resumed.
Folsom returned the opening kickoff of the second half 99 yards for a touchdown, electrifying the home crowd and giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the night, 14-10.
Cardinal Newman responded with a long drive into Folsom territory, but the Bulldogs’ defense held on fourth down at its own 36 to turn the Cardinals away.
Folsom moved across midfield on its next possession but was also stopped on downs, giving Cardinal Newman another opportunity. This time, the Cardinals capitalized.
Late in the third quarter, Cardinal Newman connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. The extra point put the Cardinals back in front 17-14 heading into the final quarter.
Folsom responded again.
A long completion moved the Bulldogs to the Cardinal Newman 20 early in the fourth quarter, and Folsom worked its way inside the 10. The Cardinals kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone, but a 22-yard field goal tied the game at 17-17 with 9:47 remaining.
From there, the game became a battle for field position.
Cardinal Newman drove into Folsom territory before the Bulldogs forced a punt. The kick pinned Folsom at its own 7-yard line with less than four minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs couldn’t escape the shadow of their own goal line and eventually turned the ball over on downs at the Folsom 20 with just over two minutes remaining, putting Cardinal Newman in position to potentially win the game.
But Folsom’s defense refused to give up the decisive score.
The Bulldogs held the Cardinals to a fourth-down field goal attempt from inside the Folsom 20. With less than a minute remaining, Folsom broke through and blocked the kick, its second blocked kick of the night, keeping the score tied at 17.
Given another chance, the Bulldogs quickly moved the football. Starting from their own 28, Folsom drove across midfield and reached the Cardinal Newman 35 before regulation expired.
For the first time in the 2026 season, the Bulldogs were headed to overtime.
Cardinal Newman received the first possession from the Folsom 25-yard line. The Cardinals managed to reach the 19, but once again the Bulldogs’ defense made the stop when it mattered most. Cardinal Newman came up empty on fourth down, meaning Folsom needed only a score to end the game.
The Bulldogs didn’t take long. Starting at the Cardinal Newman 25, Folsom quickly moved the ball inside the 10 and reached the 1-yard line. A quarterback keeper from there finished the comeback, sending the Bulldogs into the end zone and ending the game with a 23-17 victory.
It was a season opener that tested Folsom in virtually every way. The Bulldogs trailed by 10, lost the lead after taking it for the first time, found themselves backed up near their own goal line late and then watched Cardinal Newman line up with an opportunity to win in the final minute.
Each time, Folsom found an answer. Special teams produced a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown and two blocked kicks, while the defense repeatedly came up with stops in critical situations, including Cardinal Newman’s opening possession of overtime.
The victory puts Folsom at 1-0 as the Bulldogs begin their pursuit of another championship following last year’s CIF Division 1-AA state title.
The road doesn’t get any easier. Folsom remains at home next Friday, Sept. 4, when the Bulldogs host Southern California power Mission Viejo in another major early-season matchup.
Oak Ridge storms back in Texas to stun Argyle 27-26 in season opener
ARGYLE, Texas — Oak Ridge High School traveled more than 1,500 miles from El Dorado Hills to open its 2026 football season Friday night and returned home with a 27-26 victory after a fourth-quarter comeback against Argyle.
The Trojans trailed by 13 points at halftime and remained down by 12 with less than five minutes remaining before scoring the final 13 points of the game. Oak Ridge completed the rally with a 4-yard rushing touchdown with 28 seconds left, taking its first lead of the night and handing Argyle a loss in the first regular-season football game played at the new Argyle ISD Stadium.
Argyle controlled much of the first half and wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. The Eagles struck on the first offensive play of the game with an 85-yard touchdown pass and built a 13-7 advantage by the end of the opening quarter.
The Eagles added two more touchdowns before halftime, including a quarterback run and a 76-yard touchdown pass, while Oak Ridge managed one first-half touchdown. Argyle carried a 20-7 advantage into the locker room.
The direction of the game began to change after halftime.
Oak Ridge opened the third quarter with an 11-play scoring drive that included a 26-yard completion and 40 yards on the ground. The Trojans finished the possession with a 4-yard rushing touchdown, cutting Argyle’s lead to 20-14.
The Trojans’ offense continued to control possession as the second half progressed. After forcing Argyle to punt, Oak Ridge put together another extended drive, this time running 17 plays and keeping the Eagles’ offense on the sideline.
Argyle eventually restored its two-score advantage following a big play that helped set up another touchdown. The Eagles led 26-14 as the game moved inside the final five minutes, leaving Oak Ridge needing two scores to have a chance.
The Trojans got both.
Oak Ridge pulled within striking distance with a late touchdown, cutting the deficit to 26-21. Its defense then gave the offense another opportunity, and the Trojans drove for the score that ultimately decided the game.
With 28 seconds remaining, Oak Ridge crossed the goal line on a 4-yard rushing touchdown to move in front 27-26. It was the Trojans’ first lead after Argyle had been ahead for the opening 47 minutes and 32 seconds of the game.
Argyle received one final opportunity with less than half a minute remaining, but Oak Ridge’s defense closed the door. The Trojans recorded sacks on consecutive plays as the remaining seconds expired, completing the comeback and securing the season-opening victory.
Oak Ridge’s second-half approach played a significant role in the turnaround. The Trojans rushed for nearly 100 yards on 24 second-half carries and produced 232 yards of offense after halftime. Their extended possessions also limited Argyle’s opportunities with the football after the Eagles had produced several explosive plays during the opening two quarters. Argyle was also assessed more than 100 yards in penalties during the game.
The result came against an Argyle program beginning a new season in a new home. Friday night’s matchup was the first regular-season game at the newly constructed Argyle ISD Stadium.
Argyle quarterback Hayes Hackney finished with 365 passing yards and accounted for all four Eagles touchdowns, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for another. Argyle’s passing attack produced several long gains, including touchdown plays covering 85 and 76 yards in the first half.
Oak Ridge, however, steadily closed the gap after halftime before scoring twice in the closing minutes to turn a 26-14 deficit into a 27-26 victory.
The win moves Oak Ridge to 1-0 and extends the Trojans’ road winning streak to four games dating back to last season.
After beginning the year with one of the longest road trips on its schedule, Oak Ridge returns to El Dorado Hills for its home opener Friday, Sept. 4, against Central East.
Vista del Lago falls to Granite Bay 47-16 in season opener
GRANITE BAY — Vista del Lago opened its 2026 football season on the road Friday night, falling behind early and struggling to slow Granite Bay as the Grizzlies pulled away for a 47-16 nonleague victory.
Granite Bay set the tone immediately, returning the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and putting Vista in a deficit before its offense ever took the field.
The Eagles attempted to answer and moved the football against the Granite Bay defense, but an interception ended one of Vista’s early opportunities and allowed the Grizzlies to maintain control.
Granite Bay continued building its advantage in the second quarter, using its passing game to stretch the field and connecting on a deep touchdown pass. The Grizzlies complemented those explosive plays with a physical rushing attack that helped them control the line of scrimmage and keep Vista from establishing sustained momentum.
Vista continued battling and managed to put 16 points on the board, but Granite Bay proved difficult to slow throughout the night. The Grizzlies generated points on offense and special teams while their defense limited the Eagles’ opportunities to mount a comeback.
Sac-Joaquin Section High School Football Scores
Analy 62, Wood 33
Bear River 26, Golden Sierra 20
Bret Harte 21, Delhi 7
Calaveras 34, Bradshaw Christian 14
Center 27, Kennedy 21
Central East 42, Grant 12
Cordova 33, Sheldon 16
Del Campo 13, Burbank 6
Del Oro 42, Downey 20
Destiny Christian Academy 28, Inderkum 12
Dixon 60, San Juan 0
East Nicolaus 15, Linden 7
Edison 39, Elk Grove 20
Folsom 23, Cardinal Newman 17
Foothill 34, Woodland Christian 28
Franklin 27, Galt 21
Franklin 34, Chavez 14
Freedom 37, Le Grand 14
Golden Valley 23, Lathrop 6
Grace Davis 43, El Capitan 28
Granite Bay 47, Vista del Lago 16
Gregori 8, Buhach Colony 0
Highlands 54, North Tahoe 0
Hilmar 49, Argonaut 35
Homedale 33, Central Catholic 21
Hughson 44, Ceres 7
Jesuit 33, Lincoln 14
Johansen 27, Modesto 0
Johnson 39, Natomas 14
Kairos Public 48, West Campus 6
Liberty Ranch 28, Escalon 24
Lincoln 33, Nevada Union 16
Los Banos 22, Dos Palos 19
McClatchy 42, River Valley 37
McNair 34, Livingston 14
Merced 24, Patterson 21
Millennium 54, Futures 0
Minarets 20, Modesto Christian 0
Mountain House 10, Bear Creek 7
Oak Ridge 27, Argyle 26
Oakdale 21, Sonora 9
Oakmont 28, Bettye Davis East Anchorage 13
Orestimba 21, Gustine 13
Pacheco 23, Stone Ridge Christian 22
Pioneer 48, Davis Sr. 6
Pitman 29, Central Valley 14
Placer 18, Casa Roble 13
Pleasant Grove 56, Christian Brothers 28
Pleasant Valley 35, Cosumnes Oaks 19
Ponderosa 63, El Dorado 18
Pittsburg 40, Monterey Trail 7
Rio Americano 17, Stagg 14
Rio Linda 28, Marysville 21
Ripon 27, Livermore 24
Ripon Christian 41, Summerville 6
River City 21, Laguna Creek 19
River Islands 49, Waterford 20
Rocklin 46, Turlock 7
Rodriguez 28, Fairfield 0
Rosemont 36, El Camino 14
Roseville 12, Antelope 0
Saint Francis 31, Manteca 23
Sierra 28, Enochs 7
St. Mary’s 27, Bishop Manogue 7
St. Vincent de Paul 40, Mesa Verde 0
Sutter 49, Bishop Lynch 28
Tokay 48, Lodi 23
Tracy 69, West 7
Twelve Bridges 61, Bella Vista 20
Union Mine 32, Colfax 28
Upper Lake 40, Esparto 6
Vacaville 35, Atwater 14
Vanden 16, Amador Valley 0
Washington 63, Weston Ranch 28
West Valley 55, Kimball 7
Wheatland 15, Amador 14
Whitney 22, West Park 6
Winters 21, Rio Vista 0
Woodcreek 28, Chico 6
Woodland 39, Lindhurst 30
Yuba City 62, Armijo 0
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