The 2025 high school football season opened with fireworks across the region Friday night, as Vista del Lago, Oak Ridge and Cordova each earned statement wins in their season debuts. Packed stands, hot August air, and a few nail-biting moments set the tone for what looks to be another exciting year of Friday night lights across the area.
At Consumnes River College, Vista del Lago shook off a sluggish first half to rally past Laguna Creek 35-22. The Eagles trailed 7-0 at halftime before erupting in the third quarter, sparked by a long kickoff return that flipped the momentum. Vista ran back the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, then added two passing scores in quick succession to surge ahead and silence the Cardinals’ crowd.
Laguna Creek answered with a pair of touchdowns in the second half, closing the margin to 28-22 at one point, but Vista’s explosive 21-point third quarter proved to be the difference. The Eagles’ defense then clamped down in the final minutes, halting a Cardinals drive at the goal line to secure the win and send their faithful home celebrating. It was a resilient showing for Vista, proving their ability to respond under pressure. Final score: Vista del Lago 35, Laguna Creek 22.
Oak Ridge dominates Frontier on the road
In Bakersfield, Oak Ridge flexed its muscle on both sides of the ball, overpowering Frontier 40-7 in a commanding road performance. The Trojans grabbed a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Running back Tyler Andujar opened the floodgates in the second with a one-yard rushing touchdown, and another ground score quickly followed. A safety from the Oak Ridge defense added to the rout, and a late field goal capped a 19-point quarter that had the Trojans leading 26-0 at the break.
Frontier briefly showed life in the third with a 40-yard touchdown pass, but Oak Ridge delivered an immediate response—a 70-yard passing strike that broke the game wide open once again. The defense smothered the Titans the rest of the way, forcing turnovers and controlling the pace. Jasen Womack’s 10-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed the night’s scoring, putting the finishing touches on a dominant victory that showcased Oak Ridge’s depth and physicality. Final score: Oak Ridge 40, Frontier 7.
Cordova edges Sheldon in overtime thriller
In Sacramento, the Cordova Lancers—known as the Big Red—delivered one of the night’s most dramatic finishes, edging Sheldon 13-10 in overtime. The Huskies scored just before halftime to carry a 7-0 lead into the locker room, but Cordova responded immediately in the third quarter. Makhai Stewart took the kickoff all the way back for a touchdown, igniting the Lancers’ sideline and bringing the game even at 7-7.
The teams remained deadlocked through the fourth quarter, with both defenses stepping up in critical moments to send the game into overtime. Sheldon regained the edge with a 19-yard field goal in the extra period, but Cordova answered in dramatic fashion. The Big Red powered in a rushing touchdown to claim the lead, and though the extra point attempt failed, the Lancers had already secured the upset. Cordova’s sideline erupted as the scoreboard went final, 13-10.
It was a gritty, hard-fought victory for the Lancers, one that showed the character and toughness of a program determined to make noise this season. Final score: Cordova 13, Sheldon 10.
Casa Roble outpaces Placer in high-scoring battle
In Orangevale, Casa Roble lit up the scoreboard in its season opener, defeating Placer 46-30 in a fast-paced, high-scoring contest. The Rams wasted no time setting the tone, with Jaylan Barcenas scoring on both the ground and through the air in the opening quarter, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to Jared Alexander. Casa Roble added a two-point conversion and jumped out to a 15-0 lead before Placer finally responded.
The Hillmen clawed back into the game with a pick-six and a field goal in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 22-16 at halftime. But Casa Roble’s offense came alive again in the third, striking for multiple touchdowns to rebuild a double-digit lead. Placer managed to score again in the fourth, but the Rams’ relentless rushing attack proved too much, sealing the win with a late touchdown and two-point conversion.
The victory gave Casa Roble a powerful 1-0 start to their 2025 campaign, showing an offense capable of putting points on the board in a hurry. Final score: Casa Roble 46, Placer 30.
Ponderosa shuts out El Dorado in Gold Pan game
In Placerville, Ponderosa left no doubt in its opener, dominating rival El Dorado 29-0 in the annual Gold Pan game. The Bruins controlled the contest from start to finish, combining a punishing ground game with a stingy defense that never allowed the Cougars to find the scoreboard.
By halftime, Ponderosa had built a comfortable lead, and they never took their foot off the gas in the second half, adding points while keeping El Dorado bottled up offensively. The shutout victory gave Ponderosa a 1-0 start to the season and ensured the Gold Pan trophy returned to Shingle Springs. Final score: Ponderosa 29, El Dorado 0.
Granite Bay powers past Raiders
Granite Bay also impressed in its opener, pulling away for a 45-17 victory over River City. The Grizzlies controlled the pace from the third quarter on, building a 38-9 lead before sealing the night with a dominant finish. River City found a late spark, but Granite Bay’s offense proved too much to handle, as the Grizzlies walked off with a commanding win to start their 2025 campaign.
Between Vista del Lago’s resilience, Oak Ridge’s dominance, Cordova’s dramatic overtime heroics, Casa Roble’s offensive showcase, Ponderosa’s defensive shutout, and Granite Bay’s commanding win, the area’s opening night of high school football had a little bit of everything. Fans can look below for additional scores from around the region as the first full Friday of the 2025 season got underway. (Alphabetical by winning team.)
Game night scores, Friday, August 22, 2025
Amador 42, Wheatland 14
Antelope 17, Roseville 21
Armijo 6, Yuba City 47
Atwater 65, Vacaville 64
Bear River 21, Lindhurst 18
Bella Vista 35, Oakmont 14
Bishop Manogue 38, St. Mary’s 51
Bradshaw Christian 21, Calaveras 20
Bret Harte 35, Delhi 7
Buhach Colony 0, Gregori 22
Casa Roble 46, Placer 30
Center 28, Kennedy 18
Central Catholic 21, Pleasant Valley 41
Central Valley 27, Pitman 28
Chavez 22, Pacheco 3
Christian Brothers 7, Twelve Bridges 42
Colfax 34, Colusa 14
Cordova 13, Sheldon 10
Delta 58, Valley Christian 30
Denair 66, Modesto Christian 0
Davis Sr. 13, Pioneer 42
Dos Palos 43, Los Banos 19
Downey 14, Del Oro 39
East Union 64, Kimball 12
El Camino 0, Rosemont 53
El Capitan 27, Hoover 13
El Dorado 0, Ponderosa 29
Encina 32, Turlock Christian 14
Enochs 61, Sierra 55
Escalon 35, Rodriguez 14
Fairfield 38, Wood 42
Foothill 66, Natomas 26Foresthill 6, Adventure Christian 0
Franklin 8, Galt 6
Franklin 66, Johnson 0
Frontier 7, Oak Ridge 40
Golden Valley 26, Ripon 48
Granite Bay 45, Rio Americano 17
Gregori 22, Buhach Colony 0
Hilmar 32, Grace Davis 0
Hughson 37, Ceres 7
Inderkum 22, Monterey Trail 27
Jesuit 13, Woodcreek 38
Johansen 9, Modesto 21
Justin Garza 18, Mesa Verde 12
Kairos Public 0, Vacaville Christian 59
Kimball 12, East Union 64
Lathrop 43, Mountain House 16
Le Grand 35, Livingston 29
Liberty Ranch 41, Stagg 26
Lincoln 45, Rio Linda 40
Lincoln 72, McNair 6
Linden 15, Destiny Christian Academy 12
Lodi 7, Tokay 13
Mariposa County 39, Yosemite 20
Manteca 29, Elk Grove 0
McClatchy 26, River Valley 6
McQueen 38, Union Mine 11
Merced 30, Patterson 23
Mira Loma 66, Valley 0
Modesto 21, Johansen 9
Monterey Trail 27, Inderkum 22
Mountain House 16, Lathrop 43
Natomas 26, Foothill 66
Oak Ridge 40, Frontier 7
Oakdale 14, Sonora 32
Oakmont 14, Bella Vista 35
Patterson 23, Merced 30
Pioneer 42, Davis Sr. 13
Pitman 28, Central Valley 27
Placer 30, Casa Roble 46
Pleasant Grove 19, River City 0
Pleasant Valley 41, Central Catholic 21
Ponderosa 29, El Dorado 0
Rio Americano 17, Granite Bay 45
Rio Linda 40, Lincoln 45
Rio Vista 24, Stone Ridge Christian 35
Ripon 48, Golden Valley 26
Ripon Christian 35, Summerville 21
River City 0, Pleasant Grove 19
River Islands 6, Waterford 33
River Valley 6, McClatchy 26
Rodriguez 14, Escalon 35
Rocklin 35, Turlock 7
Rosemont 53, El Camino 0
Roseville 21, Antelope 17
Sheldon 10, Cordova 13
Sierra 55, Enochs 61
Sonora 32, Oakdale 14
St. Mary’s 51, Bishop Manogue 38
Stagg 26, Liberty Ranch 41
Stone Ridge Christian 35, Rio Vista 24
Summerville 21, Ripon Christian 35
Tokay 13, Lodi 7
Tracy 61, West 6
Turlock 7, Rocklin 35
Turlock Christian 14, Encina 32
Twelve Bridges 42, Christian Brothers 7
Union Mine 11, McQueen 38
Vacaville 64, Atwater 65
Vacaville Christian 59, Kairos Public 0
Valley 0, Mira Loma 66
Valley Christian 30, Delta 58
Vista del Lago 35, Laguna Creek 22
Waterford 33, River Islands 6
West 6, Tracy 61
West Park 13, Whitney 17
Whitney 17, West Park 13
Wood 42, Fairfield 38
Woodcreek 38, Jesuit 13
Woodland 14, Woodland Christian 52
Woodland Christian 52, Woodland 14
Yosemite 20, Mariposa County 39
Yuba City 47, Armijo 6
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