Vista del Lago, Oak Ridge, Cordova, Granite Bay and Casa Roble suffer week two losses; Folsom faces Serra Saturday
by Alan Inderkane • Photo by Matthew Gorajewski
Week two of the high school football season brought no shortage of drama for Folsom-area programs, but it also proved to be a challenging Friday night for many of our most local teams. Local favorites Vista del Lago, Oak Ridge, and Cordova were among those that fell in the second week of non-conference play in the Sac-Joaquin Section, joined by Granite Bay and Casa Roble in hard-fought setbacks.
The Folsom Bulldogs, meanwhile, were idle Friday night. The region’s top-ranked program takes the field Saturday in San Mateo, where they’ll face perennial power Junipero Serra in one of the state’s marquee non-league matchups. The Bulldogs enter 1-0 and nationally ranked, while Serra makes its season debut against the visitors from Folsom. Here’s how Friday’s action unfolded across the region.
Vista del Lago falls to Bradshaw Christian 50-28
Vista del Lago entered week two hoping to build on last week’s opening win, but the Eagles ran into an explosive Bradshaw Christian team that lit up the scoreboard late to pull away, handing Vista its first loss of the season Friday night, 50–28.
Early in the matchup, Vista del Lago found some offensive rhythm behind big plays from its quarterback and running back combinations. By halftime, the Eagles kept within striking distance, trailing by two scores, but Bradshaw Christian’s rushing attack proved relentless in the second half.
Vista’s highlight came in the third quarter when the Eagles marched deep into Pride territory, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass followed by a two-point conversion that cut the deficit to 36–28. The rally brought the visitors’ sideline to life and gave Vista hope heading into the final minutes of the third.
Bradshaw Christian responded immediately, however, with a momentum-shifting 52-yard touchdown run by Mason Pisarski that extended the lead once more. In the fourth, Bishop Porter’s short scoring run, coupled with Joey Demarco’s steady kicking, helped seal the game as Vista’s offense stalled on consecutive drives.
Despite the setback, Vista del Lago showed flashes of offensive creativity and resilience, especially with big gains from Jacoby More that sparked second-half scoring chances. The Eagles ultimately could not overcome Bradshaw’s power ground game and key defensive stops in the red zone.
With the loss, Vista del Lago moves to 1–1 on the season, while Bradshaw Christian improves to 2–0. The Eagles will look to regroup next week as league play draws closer and the push for early momentum in the season continues.
Mission Hills surges late to hand Oak Ridge 24-13 loss
The Oak Ridge Trojans went toe-to-toe with Mission Hills Friday night in a battle of unbeaten teams, but turnovers and a fourth-quarter surge by the Grizzlies proved decisive in a 24-13 loss that dropped Oak Ridge to 1-1 on the season.
A hot evening drew more than 1,000 fans to the Mission Hills campus, where the Trojans showed early composure. After driving deep into Grizzlies territory on their opening possession, Oak Ridge capped a steady march with a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Their defense held strong for much of the opening quarter, keeping Mission Hills off the board and forcing punts.
The game began to tilt in the second quarter. Mission Hills tied it at 3-3 with a short field goal before delivering a momentum-shifting defensive play. With Oak Ridge looking to move the ball, a Grizzlies defender jumped a route and sprinted to the end zone for a pick-six. The home side added a two-point conversion to make it 11-3, and though the score was later corrected to 10-3, the damage was done. Oak Ridge trailed by a touchdown at halftime.
The Trojans answered with grit after the break. Early in the third quarter, Oak Ridge’s defense forced a fumble deep in Mission Hills territory. The offense wasted no time, punching in a one-yard rushing touchdown and adding the extra point to tie the game at 10-10. The defense forced another stop, and Oak Ridge capitalized again, driving inside the 10-yard line before settling for a short field goal to take a 13-10 lead.
That would be the Trojans’ final points of the night.
Mission Hills regained control in the fourth quarter as quarterback Troy Huhn orchestrated two decisive scoring drives. The first ended with a three-yard touchdown pass to wideout Josh Gonzales, swinging the lead back to the Grizzlies at 17-13. After Oak Ridge’s offense stalled, Huhn struck again, finding tight end Perrin Blankenship from two yards out to extend the margin to 24-13.
Oak Ridge’s defense fought to keep the Trojans alive, coming up with an interception and pushing back against Mission Hills inside the red zone. But field position and timely Grizzlies stops kept the Trojans from mounting a comeback. Their final possession reached midfield before the drive fizzled out.
In the end, Oak Ridge’s strong third quarter wasn’t enough to overcome the swing plays — the pick-six before halftime, the short fields in the fourth, and a pair of late touchdowns that sealed their fate.
Now 1-1, the Trojans return home next week looking to regroup from their first setback of the year and build on the positives, including a defense that forced multiple turnovers and an offense that showed resilience in climbing back into the game.
Mission Hills improved to 2-0, showcasing its ability to finish strong behind Huhn’s efficient passing and a defense that delivered when it mattered most.
Cordova drops road matchup at Mesa Verde 18-13
The Cordova Lancers opened Friday night with promise, but their early spark wasn’t enough to overcome Mesa Verde as the Mavericks used a strong middle stretch to pull out an 18-13 non-league victory.
Cordova set the tone on its opening drive of the first quarter, grinding out yards on the ground before breaking through with a rushing touchdown that gave the visitors a 7-0 lead after the extra point. It was a confident start for the Lancers, who looked poised to build on last week’s season-opening win.
But Mesa Verde soon turned the momentum in its favor. Running back Cesar Granados became the difference-maker before halftime. First, he muscled into the end zone on an 8-yard run to put the Mavericks on the board. Then, later in the quarter, Granados broke free for a 32-yard touchdown sprint that sent the home crowd to its feet. Though Mesa Verde failed on both conversion attempts, the two scores were enough to swing the lead to 12-7 at the break.
The Mavericks kept the pressure on early in the second half. Defensive stops gave their offense room to work, and quarterback play set up Gabe McGuire’s 12-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. The score padded Mesa Verde’s lead to 18-7, leaving Cordova facing its first double-digit deficit of the season.
To their credit, the Lancers didn’t fold. Cordova’s defense stiffened and forced stops throughout the fourth quarter, keeping the game within reach. With time winding down, the Lancers clawed their way back on a late rushing touchdown that trimmed the deficit to 18-13. But the missed point-after attempt loomed large, and Mesa Verde’s defense came up with the stops it needed in the closing minutes.
The loss dropped Cordova to 1-1, while Mesa Verde evened its record at 1-1 after dropping its opener a week earlier. Despite the setback, the Lancers showed resilience on the road and will look to regroup quickly as non-league play continues next week.
Ponderosa edges Casa Roble 36-34 with late safety in thriller
A dramatic finish capped a rollercoaster of a Friday night showdown as Ponderosa held off a furious Casa Roble comeback, pulling out a 36-34 non-league victory thanks to a late safety in front of more than 1,000 fans.
The Bruins came out blazing in the first quarter behind quarterback Colton Ridgley, who connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ben Bailey and a 16-yard strike to Chase Laczny for an early 14-0 lead. Ridgley added a 36-yard scoring toss to Zealand Jenks in the second quarter, and running back Marshall Alvernaz punched in a five-yard rushing score as Ponderosa raced to a commanding 28-7 halftime advantage.
But Casa Roble, behind the arm of quarterback Aidan Lopez, stormed back in the third. Lopez threw three touchdown passes in the period — a 23-yarder to Jared Alexander and a 26-yard strike to Karter Coss among them — while Jaylan Barcenas added a short rushing score following a 99-yard kickoff return by Tariq Lofton to open the half. By the end of the third quarter, the Rams had clawed back to within two at 28-26.
Casa Roble then surged ahead early in the fourth when Kasey Hilderbrand barreled in from two yards out, followed by a two-point conversion from Barcenas to put the Rams in front 34-28 with nine minutes left. The Bruins answered when Ridgley fired his fourth touchdown pass of the night from 11 yards out to tie it, but a missed extra point left the score knotted at 34.
With just over a minute to play, a high snap sailed over the Casa Roble punter’s head and through the end zone, giving Ponderosa a safety and the decisive two points. The Bruins then recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the win.
Ridgley finished with four touchdown passes, connecting with three different receivers, while Jenks contributed on both sides of the ball with a touchdown catch and an interception. Lopez led the Rams’ rally with four total touchdown passes, but Casa Roble’s comeback fell just short.
The victory lifts Ponderosa to 2-0 on the young season, while Casa Roble drops to 1-1 after the heartbreaking defeat.
Granite Bay’s late rally falls short in 42-36 loss at Pittsburg
A furious fourth-quarter rally by Granite Bay fell just short Friday night as Pittsburg held on for a 42-36 victory in a non-conference clash that kept more than 1,000 fans on the edge of their seats.
The host Pirates jumped out to an early lead, striking twice in the first quarter and adding two more touchdowns in the second to carry a commanding 28-7 advantage into halftime. Granite Bay finally broke through late in the second quarter with a short rushing touchdown but still faced a steep uphill climb.
The Grizzlies cut into the deficit in the third when they connected on a touchdown pass to make it 28-14, keeping themselves in striking distance heading into the final quarter. That set the stage for a wild finish.
Pittsburg extended its lead to 35-14 midway through the fourth, but Granite Bay responded quickly with a touchdown pass that closed the gap to 35-29. Each time the Grizzlies gained ground, the Pirates answered, breaking loose for a rushing touchdown inside the final two minutes to push the margin to 42-29. Granite Bay refused to quit, capping the night with another touchdown pass in the final minute, but the clock ran out before they could complete the comeback.
The loss drops Granite Bay to 1-1 on the season, while Pittsburg improves to 2-0 after showing both explosive playmaking ability and late-game poise. Both teams displayed plenty of offensive firepower, combining for 50 points in the second half alone.
Folsom takes the field Saturday at Junipero Serra
The week of prep football action isn’t finished just yet. On Saturday afternoon, the Folsom Bulldogs travel to San Mateo for a marquee non-conference matchup against Junipero Serra. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Serra High School.
Folsom comes in 1-0 after an impressive 51-13 opening win and enters the contest ranked No. 38 nationally and No. 9 in California. Junipero Serra, ranked No. 178 nationally and No. 28 in the state, will be playing its season opener at home. The Padres are eager to prove themselves against one of Northern California’s most decorated programs, while the Bulldogs look to keep momentum rolling as they continue one of the state’s toughest non-league schedules.
Digital tickets are available for purchase through GoFan, and fans can catch the action via live stream on the NFHS Network.
Friday night Sac Joaquin Section Reported Scores
American Canyon 58, Wood 14
Amador 13, Pierce 14
Amador Valley 14, Vanden 21
Argonaut 6, Calaveras 35
Atwater 21, Hughson 27
Bear River 20, Truckee 41
Bella Vista 0, Nevada Union 49
Bishop Manogue 23, Rocklin 28
Bishop O’Dowd 37, Armijo 19
Bradshaw Christian 50, Vista del Lago 28
Buhach Colony 6, Johansen 27
Calaveras 35, Argonaut 6
Casa Roble 36, Ponderosa 34
CBHS 25, SJMHS 27
Central East 26, Grant 42
Central Valley 21, El Capitan 26
Chico 33, Antelope 14
CCHS 28, St. Mary’s 52
Colfax 7, East Nicolaus 31
Cordova 13, Mesa Verde 18
Cosumnes Oaks 42, Pitman 41
Davis Sr. 28, McClatchy 35
DCA 41, Menlo-Atherton 7
Del Campo 41, El Dorado 28
Denair 17, Summerville 47
Dixon 41, Winters 6
Downey 43, Elk Grove 42
East Nicolaus 31, Colfax 7
East Union 83, Freedom 19
El Camino 0, Center 38
El Capitan 26, Central Valley 21
El Dorado 28, Del Campo 41
Elk Grove 42, Downey 43
Encina 68, West Campus 6
Enochs 64, Ripon 28
Fairfield 13, Sutter 63
Florin 6, Foresthill 48
Foothill 48, McQueen 0
Foresthill 48, Florin 6
Freedom 19, East Union 83
Franklin 40, Edison 29
Galt 24, Kennedy 12
Golden Sierra 32, Johnson 21
Golden Valley 23, Tokay 41
Grace Davis 34, Orestimba 14
Granite Bay 36, Pittsburg 42
Grant 42, Central East 26
Gregori 13, Merced 45
Highlands 20, Vallejo 24
Hilmar 31, Los Banos 21
Hughson 27, Atwater 21
Inderkum 21, Marin Catholic 20
Jesuit 35, Rio Americano 0
Johansen 27, Buhach Colony 6
Johnson 21, Golden Sierra 32
Kennedy 12, Galt 24
Lathrop 42, Sierra 3
Liberty Ranch 44, Linden 7
Lincoln 48, Woodland 12
Lincoln 30, Oakdale 70
Lindhurst 51, Oroville 21
Linden 7, Liberty Ranch 44
Lodi 43, Pleasant Grove 22
Los Banos 21, Hilmar 31
Marin Catholic 20, Inderkum 21
Marysville 21, Rio Linda 0
Maxwell 0, Rio Vista 26
McClatchy 35, Davis Sr. 28
McQueen 0, Foothill 48
MCHS 14, SRCHS 50
Merced 45, Gregori 13
Mesa Verde 18, Cordova 13
Minarets 21, Pacheco 17
Mission Hills 24, Oak Ridge 13
Modesto 22, Bear Creek 10
Nevada Union 49, Bella Vista 0
Oakdale 70, Lincoln 30
Oak Ridge 13, Mission Hills 24
Orestimba 14, Grace Davis 34
Oroville 21, Lindhurst 51
Pacheco 17, Minarets 21
Patterson 20, California 11
Pioneer 40, River Valley 6
Pitman 41, Cosumnes Oaks 42
Pittsburg 42, Granite Bay 36
Pleasant Grove 22, Lodi 43
Placer 49, Laguna Creek 34
Ponderosa 34, Casa Roble 36
Reed 31, Twelve Bridges 45
Richmond 0, Riverbank 50
Rio Americano 0, Jesuit 35
Rio Linda 0, Marysville 21
Rio Vista 26, Maxwell 0
Ripon 28, Enochs 64
Riverbank 50, Richmond 0
River City 36, Sheldon 0
River Islands 12, Delhi 22
River Valley 6, Pioneer 40
Rocklin 28, Bishop Manogue 23
Rosemont 13, Yuba City 24
Sacramento 48, Sonoma Valley 0
Sheldon 0, River City 36
Sierra 3, Lathrop 42
SJMHS 27, CBHS 25
Sonoma Valley 0, Sacramento 48
SRCHS 50, MCHS 14
St. Mary’s 52, CCHS 28
Summerville 47, Denair 17
Sutter 63, Fairfield 13
Tokay 41, Golden Valley 23
Tracy 23, Turlock 26
Truckee 41, Bear River 20
Turlock 26, Tracy 23
Twelve Bridges 45, Reed 31
Union Mine 8, Wheatland 12
Vallejo 24, Highlands 20
Vista del Lago 28, Bradshaw Christian 50
Washington 49, Weston Ranch 13
West 7, Mountain House 25
West Campus 6, Encina 68
Weston Ranch 13, Washington 49
West Park 22, Vacaville 6
Wheatland 12, Union Mine 8
Whitney 20, Woodcreek 37
Winters 6, Dixon 41
Wood 14, American Canyon 58
Woodcreek 37, Whitney 20
Woodland 12, Lincoln 48
Yuba City 24, Rosemont 13Courtesy MaxPreps
