As the Sac-Joaquin Section regular season winds down to its penultimate week, Friday night football delivered no shortage of drama, statement victories, and playoff implications for local teams. Folsom kept its league dominance intact with another convincing win, Vista del Lago came up a single point short in a thriller, Oak Ridge rolled past Whitney with a defensive showcase, Casa Roble continued its impressive run toward the postseason, and Cordova battled hard but fell late on the road.
In Folsom, the Bulldogs once again reminded Northern California why they remain one of the region’s elite football programs, storming past Jesuit 42–7 at Prairie City Stadium to improve to 8–1 on the season.
Behind a fast-paced offensive attack led by quarterback Ryder Lyons and receiver Rob Larson, the Bulldogs wasted no time asserting control. After receiving the opening kickoff, Lyons marched the offense methodically down the field before finding Larson on a perfectly placed 39-yard touchdown pass for the game’s first score. The Bulldogs’ defense quickly followed with a forced fumble deep in Jesuit territory, setting up another short drive capped by a 14-yard strike from Lyons to Larson that doubled the lead.
Jesuit managed to answer with a touchdown early in the second quarter to make it 14–7, but that was the last time the Marauders would threaten. Lyons responded by directing two more scoring drives, finding multiple receivers for big gains and stretching the lead to 28–7 by halftime.
The Bulldogs’ defensive front, led by a disruptive pass rush and tight secondary coverage, made life miserable for Jesuit’s offense. Linebackers closed gaps quickly, and the defensive backs shut down any comeback hopes.
In the third quarter, Folsom added a pair of rushing touchdowns, showcasing its balance and depth. With a commanding 42–7 lead by the end of the third, the Bulldogs rotated personnel while the defense continued to stifle Jesuit’s attack. When the clock hit zero, Folsom had delivered another statement victory, reinforcing its dominance in the Sierra Foothill League heading into the regular season finale.
Vista del Lago falls 35–34 in playoff berth heartbreaker
SHINGLE SPRINGS — Vista del Lago came within a single play of a season-defining victory Friday night, falling 35–34 to rival Ponderosa in a Capital Valley Conference matchup that came down to the final seconds.
The Eagles opened the game with one of their most explosive offensive performances of the season, led by quarterback Jacoby More and receiver Kyle Cromwell. On the first play from scrimmage, More connected with Jack Cromwell for a 71-yard touchdown that gave Vista an early 7–0 lead. Ponderosa quickly answered with a 31-yard scoring pass to even the game, setting the tone for what would become a four-quarter shootout.
Vista regained control in the second quarter when More hit Kyle Cromwell for a 97-yard touchdown strike on third-and-eight, one of the longest plays of the season for the Eagles. Ponderosa tied it again on a short touchdown run, but Vista answered before halftime with another More-to-Cromwell connection—an 11-yard score that sent the Eagles into the locker room up 21–14.
The Bruins opened the second half strong, scoring on an 83-yard touchdown pass to tie the game and then taking their first lead early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run to make it 28–21. The Eagles refused to fold, and More once again delivered, finding Kyle Cromwell for his third touchdown of the night—a 10-yard strike that tied the game at 28–28 with just over six minutes to play.
Ponderosa responded immediately with a nine-yard run to regain the lead, 35–28, with 2:34 remaining. But Vista del Lago’s offense had one more drive in them. In just five plays, the Eagles drove the field and capped the possession with another touchdown pass from More to Cromwell—his fourth of the night—to cut the deficit to 35–34 with 44 seconds left.
Vista lined up for a potential game-winning two-point conversion. The play call produced an open look over the middle, but the pass fell incomplete, leaving the Eagles a point short. An ensuing onside kick attempt rolled out of bounds, allowing Ponderosa to run out the clock and secure the win.
More finished with 297 passing yards and five touchdowns, while Kyle Cromwell recorded 162 receiving yards and four scores on six catches. Jack Cromwell added 115 receiving yards and 70 on the ground, accounting for a large share of Vista’s total offense.
The loss dropped Vista del Lago to 2–7 overall and 1–4 in league play. Ponderosa improved to 6–3 and remains in contention for postseason positioning.
Oak Ridge defense dominates in 28–6 win over Whitney
ROCKLIN — The Oak Ridge Trojans turned defense into offense Friday night, using a pair of takeaways and a relentless pass rush to fuel a 28–6 road victory over the Whitney Wildcats in Rocklin.
The win lifts Oak Ridge to 5–3 on the season, keeping the Trojans in the hunt for a postseason berth as they continue to gain momentum down the stretch.
Oak Ridge struck first in the opening quarter to take a 7–0 lead and never looked back. The defense then stole the show in the second quarter when Blake Meggers made back-to-back game-changing plays. Meggers intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown, extending the Trojans’ lead to 14–0 after the extra point. Moments later, he recovered a fumble, giving Oak Ridge prime field position.
Quarterback Luke Taber capitalized immediately, connecting with Braxton Martinez on a 48-yard touchdown strike to make it 21–0 heading into halftime. In the third quarter, Oak Ridge added a rushing touchdown to push the margin to 28–0 before Whitney broke through late in the game.
Oak Ridge’s defensive unit proved dominant all night, forcing multiple turnovers and allowing just one score. Their control of the game from start to finish gave the offense plenty of opportunities to work with short fields and dictate tempo.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 5–3 overall and 2–1 in league play, while Whitney drops to 2–6.
Casa Roble dominates El Camino 49–7 to improve to 8–1
ORANGEVALE — Casa Roble left little doubt about its league title ambitions Friday night, overwhelming El Camino 49–7 in a one-sided home victory that showcased explosive offense and opportunistic defense from start to finish.
Quarterback Aidan Lopez led the Rams’ charge, accounting for six total touchdowns — five through the air and one on the ground — as Casa Roble improved to 8–1 on the season. The Rams struck early and often, scoring three times in the first quarter to seize complete control. Lopez opened the night with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, then threw touchdown passes of 58 and 61 yards to receivers Jared Alexander and Mason Higby, respectively, as Casa Roble built a commanding 21–0 lead.
The second quarter brought more of the same. Lopez connected with Felix Rodriguez on a 21-yard strike, then found Jaylan Barcenas for a 65-yard touchdown minutes later. On defense, Eric Eaton delivered a highlight-reel moment with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown, sending the Rams into halftime ahead 42–0.
El Camino got on the board in the third quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Aiden Daffron to Elijah Brown, but Casa Roble answered in the fourth with Lopez’s fifth touchdown pass of the night — a 12-yard completion to Cohen Peabody — to close out the scoring at 49–7.
With the win, Casa Roble moves to 8–1 overall and continues to lead the Capital Valley Conference, positioning itself as a top contender heading into postseason play. El Camino drops to 2–8 with the loss.
Cordova edged by Davis in 27–20 road loss
DAVIS — Cordova’s late rally came up short Friday night as the Lancers fell 27–20 to Davis in a non-league matchup.
The game remained close throughout, with both teams trading scores before Davis pulled ahead in the second half. Cordova’s offense moved the ball effectively and found the end zone twice in the second half to stay within striking distance, but the Blue Devils’ defense held firm in the final minutes to secure the win.
Regional Scoreboard – Oct. 24, 2025
Argonaut 35, Bradshaw Christian 14
Atwater 14, Merced 49
Bear Creek 35, West 28
Beyer 25, Ceres 14
Big Valley Christian 6, Summerville 49
Bret Harte 14, Riverbank 21
Casa Roble 49, El Camino 7
Central Catholic 56, Mountain House 7
Delta 46, Florin 24
Denair 41, Delhi 0
Dixon 34, Natomas 18
Downey 29, Turlock 26
El Capitan 26, Buhach Colony 6
Encina 12, Foresthill 44
Esparto 50, Elite 34
Folsom 42, Jesuit 7
Golden Sierra 28, Rio Vista 22
Grace Davis 25, Pacheco 0
Gregori 35, Modesto 0
Hilmar 29, Hughson 35
Inderkum 20, Rio Americano 17
Johansen 38, Livingston 14
Laguna Creek 42, Sheldon 0
Lathrop 42, Central Valley 7
Le Grand 28, Yosemite 21
Liberty Ranch 56, Rosemont 28
Lincoln 49, Colfax 14
Lincoln 38, Lodi 7
Lindhurst 35, Mesa Verde 28
Los Banos 34, Golden Valley 7
Manteca 43, Patterson 7
Mariposa County 19, Waterford 14
Merced 49, Atwater 14
Monterey Trail 52, Cosumnes Oaks 0
Nevada Union 30, Placer 33
Oakdale 69, Sierra 15
Oak Ridge 28, Whitney 6
Oakmont 29, Marysville 28
Pioneer 36, Rodriguez 26
Pitman 31, Enochs 24
Pleasant Grove 10, Elk Grove 7
Ripon Christian 57, Orestimba 0
River Valley 40, Kennedy 0
Roseville 50, Del Campo 14
Sacramento 28, Fairfield 21
St. Mary’s 48, Tracy 13
Stone Ridge Christian 43, Gustine 7
Summerville 49, Big Valley Christian 6
Twelve Bridges 34, Yuba City 27
Vacaville 42, River City 14
Valley 40, Turlock Christian 22
Vista del Lago 34, Ponderosa 35
Wood 55, Vanden 49
Woodcreek 44, Bella Vista 21
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