Folsom suffers first loss, Vista del Lago falls at Granite Bay, Casa Roble earns home victory while Ponderosa and Destiny Christian roll. Read more and see all the Sac Joaquin Section scores below.
High school football’s third week brought mixed results for the greater Folsom area, as some local teams faced their toughest tests yet while others rolled to decisive victories. Folsom’s Bulldogs suffered their first defeat of the season in a tough road game against one of California’s perennial powers, while Vista del Lago also endured a difficult matchup against a top Granite Bay squad. Casa Roble, meanwhile, gave local fans plenty to cheer about in nearby Orangevale with a hard-fought win at home, continuing what has been a promising start to their season.
It was a week that showcased the highs and lows of early September football. The Bulldogs battled through adversity against Mission Viejo in Southern California, Vista del Lago kept pace early before falling to the Grizzlies, and Casa Roble displayed grit in closing out a win over Bella Vista. The Ponderosa Bruins and Destiny Christian Lions also continued strong starts with convincing wins. Notably, Oak Ridge and Cordova did not take the field this week, both teams resting on bye weeks as they prepare to return to action next Friday.Here’s a Folsom Times round up of the highlights from Friday night’s local games:
Mission Viejo 53, Folsom 14: Bulldogs suffer first loss of the season
The Folsom Bulldogs hit the road Friday night looking to stay unbeaten, but the trip south turned into a difficult night as perennial powerhouse Mission Viejo controlled the game from start to finish, handing the Bulldogs a 53-14 loss in front of more than 5,000 fans.
The tone was set from the opening kickoff. Mission Viejo quarterback Luke Fahey wasted no time, hitting Luke Karby for a 22-yard touchdown on the Diablos’ opening drive. Minutes later, Fahey struck again, this time finding KJ Woodbury Jr. from six yards out to give the hosts a quick 14-0 lead.
Folsom showed life late in the first quarter when quarterback Ryder Lyons connected with wideout Rob Larson on a 22-yard scoring strike, trimming the margin to 14-7. That would be the Bulldogs’ lone bright spot of the first half.
Mission Viejo’s offense exploded in the second quarter, scoring four times and adding a safety. Running back Dallas Miller powered in from two yards out, followed by another Fahey-to-Woodbury touchdown strike. A safety pushed the lead further before Davonte Curtis punched in a short rushing score to make it 37-6 at halftime.
The Bulldogs had their chances to keep it closer. Twice in the second quarter, they moved the ball deep into Diablo territory, including a trip inside the 20, but came up empty on downs and an interception just before the half.
Folsom’s defense came out with more energy in the third quarter, forcing a turnover on downs and giving the offense another shot. Larson and Jameson Powell rewarded that stop with a 14-yard touchdown connection, closing the gap to 37-12. The Bulldogs attempted an onside kick, but Mission Viejo recovered and quickly turned the momentum back their way. Fahey fired his fourth and fifth touchdown passes of the night in the second half, connecting with Jack Junker and later hitting another Diablo receiver for a 15-yard score.
Mission Viejo’s defense also continued to swarm, tacking on two safeties in the game—one in the second quarter and another in the fourth—to cap off a dominant performance. Folsom nearly found the end zone again late, driving all the way to the 1-yard line, but the Diablos held firm with a goal-line stand that summed up the night.
Folsom’s defense provided a small consolation with a safety of their own in the fourth quarter, but by then the Diablos had put the game well out of reach at 53-14.
The loss drops Folsom to 2-1 on the season after opening the year with back-to-back wins. Mission Viejo improves to 3-0 and continues to look like one of the top teams in California.
The Bulldogs now turn their attention to returning home, where they’ll host San Francisco’s Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory on Friday, September 12, at Prairie City Stadium. The Fightin’ Irish enter the game 2-0 and have outscored opponents 90-13 so far this season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., with digital tickets available for purchase through GoFan and a live stream offered on the NFHS Network. The matchup will be Folsom’s home opener as they look to rebound and defend their strong early-season ranking.
Granite Bay 45, Vista del Lago 7: Eagles early strength overcome by Grizzlies’ second-half surge
Vista del Lago came out ready to challenge Granite Bay Friday night, but after an encouraging start the Eagles couldn’t keep pace, falling 45-7 in a tough matchup.
The first quarter was a defensive battle. Vista’s offense moved the ball into Grizzly territory and reached the red zone on its opening drive, but a missed field goal left the game scoreless. Granite Bay then worked across midfield late in the period before the Eagles’ defense held, sending the contest into the second quarter still knotted 0-0.
Granite Bay’s playmakers broke it open from there. Quarterback Isaiah Ene connected with Darnell Turner for a 32-yard touchdown to start the second, and after a quick defensive stop, Ene took off for a 74-yard sprint down the sideline to make it 14-0. Vista answered with its best moment of the night: quarterback Christian Chavez dropped back and hit receiver Cael Rens in stride for a 23-yard scoring strike that cut the deficit to 14-7 with just under five minutes left in the half.
But the Grizzlies immediately seized back control. Ene powered in from four yards out for his third touchdown of the half, and on Vista’s next possession Turner intercepted a pass near midfield. Granite Bay capitalized with a short field, and kicker Jimmy Deslaurier split the uprights from 15 yards to send the Grizzlies into halftime up 24-7.
The Eagles never recovered. Vista fumbled on its first possession of the third quarter, and Granite Bay pounced, turning the miscue into a 5-yard touchdown run by Brody Walker. After another Eagle punt, Ene found the end zone yet again, this time from five yards out, extending the margin to 38-7.
Vista’s offense had little room to maneuver the rest of the way. A turnover on downs early in the fourth quarter set up Granite Bay’s final blow, a 45-yard touchdown burst by Dylan Tetz that pushed the lead to 45-7. Another Vista punt sealed the Eagles’ frustration as the clock wound down.
Ene finished the night with four total touchdowns—three on the ground and one through the air—while Turner contributed on both sides of the ball with a touchdown catch and an interception. Tetz and Walker each added rushing scores, and Deslaurier went a perfect six-for-six on extra points while also hitting a short field goal.
For Vista, the game swung on missed opportunities. After an early red zone trip ended without points, the Eagles answered Granite Bay’s first two scores with Chavez’s touchdown to Rens, only to see the Grizzlies close the half on a 10-0 run. In all, Granite Bay scored 31 unanswered points after Vista’s lone touchdown.
Vista del Lago showed flashes in the opening half but struggled to sustain drives against Granite Bay’s defensive front and speed in the secondary. The Eagles will look to regroup quickly as they continue their schedule, while Granite Bay celebrated a dominant home-field performance.
Next week, Vista del Lago (1-2) returns home to face Oakdale (2-1) in a non-conference matchup on Friday, September 12, at 7:15 p.m.
Casa Roble 35, Bella Vista 26: Rams protect home field with balanced offense and timely defense
Casa Roble protected its home turf Friday night, turning back a determined Bella Vista squad with a balanced offensive attack and timely defense to claim a 35-26 non-league victory.
The first quarter set the tone for an entertaining contest. Bella Vista struck first with a short field goal by Sam Pennington, but the Rams responded quickly with a rushing touchdown to briefly take the lead. Bella Vista quarterback Jack Singley connected with Riley Durazo on a 30-yard scoring strike late in the quarter, and with the extra point, the Broncos carried a 10-7 edge into the second.
Casa Roble answered in the second quarter when Eric Eaton powered into the end zone from 10 yards out, giving the Rams a 13-10 halftime advantage. Bella Vista’s defense, highlighted by sacks from Cooper Thorn and others, kept things close, but the Rams’ offense began to find its rhythm after the break.
A third-quarter fumble recovery by Casa Roble swung momentum firmly in the Rams’ favor. They capitalized with a rushing touchdown followed by a two-point conversion from Dunedin Tupou, stretching the lead to 21-10. Casa Roble extended the cushion in the fourth with a passing touchdown and another successful two-point try, pushing the margin to 29-10.
Bella Vista showed resilience in the closing minutes, leaning on running back Dvaughn Norwood, who broke free for two late touchdowns to keep the Broncos within striking distance. Still, Casa Roble’s offense had an answer each time. Eaton added his second rushing score of the night to seal the win, and the Rams’ defense held off Bella Vista’s final surge as the clock wound down.
The victory lifts Casa Roble’s record to 2-1, while Bella Vista drops to 1-2. Next week, the Rams hit the road for a non-conference test against Nevada Union in Grass Valley. The Miners also sit at 2-1, setting up a Friday night showdown between two evenly matched squads. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on September 12, with digital tickets available through GoFan and live streaming on the NFHS Network.
Ponderosa 50, Foothill 6: Bruins roll past Falcons with dominant all-around performance
The Ponderosa Bruins put on a dominant performance Friday night, overwhelming Foothill 50-6 in a non-conference matchup that had the home crowd of more than 1,000 fans celebrating from start to finish.
The Bruins struck first midway through the opening quarter with a touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. Minutes later, they added a rushing score and extra point to build a 14-0 cushion heading into the second quarter.
Foothill managed to answer early in the second when Xavier Balderas powered in a one-yard rushing touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 14-6. That would be the Falcons’ lone highlight of the night. Ponderosa’s offense responded immediately and never looked back, piling on 29 unanswered points before halftime. Behind a punishing ground game and sharp passing attack, the Bruins found the end zone three more times in the second quarter alone, building an insurmountable 43-6 advantage at the break.
With a running clock in the second half, Ponderosa slowed the pace but still added another rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, capping the scoring at 50-6. The Bruins’ defense, meanwhile, held firm, shutting out the Falcons over the final three quarters and keeping them from mounting any momentum.
The lopsided victory continues Ponderosa’s strong start to the season as they prepare for the heart of their schedule. The Bruins will look to build on the confidence of Friday’s win when they take the field again next week.
Up next, Ponderosa (3-0) faces its toughest challenge yet when they travel to Granite Bay to take on the Grizzlies (2-1) in a non-conference showdown on Friday, September 12 at 7 p.m.
Del Oro powers past Placer in dominant 49-14 road win
Del Oro showed why its offense is one of the most explosive in the region Friday night, rolling to a 49-14 victory over Placer in front of more than 1,000 fans from both Loomis and Auburn. at LeFebvre Stadium. Behind a balanced attack and a defense that turned takeaways into points, the Golden Eagles took control early and never looked back.
Del Oro opened the game by marching straight downfield after a defensive stop, capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by Nolen Sauve midway through the first quarter for a 6-0 lead. Placer’s defense hung tough to close the quarter, but its offense struggled to gain ground against the Golden Eagles’ front.
The Hillmen gave their home crowd something to cheer about early in the second quarter when Danny Sanchez-Harlow broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown run. Diego Rosel’s extra point pushed Placer in front 7-6, their only lead of the night. It was short-lived. Minutes later, Del Oro’s Landen Parry scooped up a Placer fumble and raced 27 yards for a score, sparking a string of Golden Eagle highlights. Sauve connected with Brennen Gibbs for a two-point conversion, and then just before halftime, Sauve found Ashton Greenhalgh for a 15-yard touchdown strike to send Del Oro into the break with a commanding 21-7 lead.
Special teams set the tone in the third quarter as Gibbs returned the opening kickoff deep into Placer territory, and Brock Sherman cashed in immediately with a 17-yard touchdown run. From there, the Golden Eagles’ defense went to work, producing back-to-back turnovers. Greenhalgh added a 5-yard pick-six, and Victor Suarez’s interception set up another Sherman rushing touchdown from 5 yards out. In the span of minutes, Del Oro blew the game wide open with a 21-point quarter, pushing the score to 42-7.
The Golden Eagles added one more insurance score in the fourth when Sam Lawrence broke free for a 13-yard touchdown run, giving Del Oro 49 points on the night. Placer battled to the end and found the end zone once more in the final minute, as Bobby Gregg punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to close out the scoring.
The win moves Del Oro to 3-0 on the season, while Placer drops to 1-2. For the Golden Eagles, it was a statement of depth, with contributions from all phases—offense, defense, and special teams—fueling a rout that silenced the home crowd and extended their strong start to 2025.
Next up, Del Oro will return home to host Foothill of Palo Cedro on Friday, September 12, at 7 p.m. The Cougars enter at 0-2 and will be looking to upset the unbeaten Golden Eagles, while Del Oro aims to keep its perfect record intact. Digital tickets are available now at GoFan, and fans can also watch the matchup live on the NFHS Network.
Destiny Christian 28, Yuba City 7: Lions control game with fast start and stingy defense
Destiny Christian Academy put together a complete performance Friday night, using a fast start and a punishing run game to defeat Yuba City 28-7 in front of more than 1,000 fans at Honker Stadium.
The Lions came out strong in the opening quarter, quickly striking twice to jump ahead 14-7. Yuba City answered early with its lone score of the night, but Destiny Christian’s defense tightened and never let the Honkers back into the game. Conditions were dry and the weather fair, allowing the Lions’ ground game to flourish.
With just over a minute remaining in the second quarter, Destiny Christian powered into the end zone on a rushing touchdown, then converted the extra point to extend the lead to 21-7 at halftime. The score capped a half in which the Lions’ offensive line controlled the trenches and their defense repeatedly stalled Yuba City drives.
Destiny Christian kept the momentum after the break. With about three minutes left in the third quarter, the Lions broke loose for another rushing touchdown, pushing the score to 27-7. The point-after attempt sailed through, stretching the lead to 28-7.
That margin would hold through the final quarter, as Destiny Christian’s defense continued to dominate. The Lions shut down any comeback hopes, keeping the Honkers scoreless in the second half and sealing a convincing non-league road victory.
The win showcased Destiny Christian’s ability to execute on both sides of the ball, combining physical rushing scores with a disciplined defensive effort. Yuba City, meanwhile, was left searching for answers after managing only one first-quarter touchdown before being bottled up the rest of the way.
Next week, Destiny Christian returns home for a tough test as the Lions host Inderkum on Friday, September 12, at 7:15 p.m. in Sacramento.
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Game Scores for Sac Joaquin Section Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
Argonaut 55, Colfax 42
Atwater 27, Gregori 14
Bear River 30, Union Mine 8
Bella Vista 26, Casa Roble 35
Boise 49, Laguna Creek 7
Buhach Colony 18, Enochs 13
Cardinal Newman 15, Grant 7
Casa Grande 14, Vacaville 20
Ceres 28, McNair 22
Chavez 39, Franklin 26
Chowchilla 22, Stone Ridge Christian 34
Clovis West 23, Edison 13
Cornerstone Christian 52, Turlock Christian 12
Cosumnes Oaks 20, River City 14
Del Oro 49, Placer 14
Denair 42, McClatchy 21
Destiny Christian Academy 28, Yuba City 7
Dixon 29, Lindhurst 30
Douglas 21, Sutter 46
Downey 39, Merced 41
Dublin 10, Vanden 14
East Union 53, Johansen 12
El Camino 6, Marysville 57
El Capitan 27, Sacred Heart Prep 35
El Dorado 20, East Nicolaus 13
Elk Grove 55, Golden Valley 19
Escalon 13, Oakdale 27
Fairfield 24, Vintage 49
Florin 49, West Campus 0
Folsom 14, Mission Viejo 53
Foothill 6, Ponderosa 50
Golden Sierra 36, Galt 13
Granite Bay 45, Vista del Lago 7
Highlands 28, Kennedy 6
Hilmar 20, Palma 48
Hughson 24, Pitman 21
Inderkum 35, Pleasant Valley 14
Jesuit 42, Bellarmine College Prep 7
Kairos Public 2, Delta F (Final)
Lathrop 13, Patterson 28
Liberty Ranch 44, Linden 7
Livermore 30, Sacramento 27
Lodi 10, Los Banos 31
Madera South 24, Delhi 13
Marin Catholic 7, St. Mary’s 28
Marysville 57, El Camino 6
McNair 22, Ceres 28
Merced 41, Downey 39
Millennium 0, Waterford 35
Mission Viejo 53, Folsom 14
Modesto 6, Sierra 27
Modesto Christian 14, River Islands 30
Monterey Trail 14, Amador Valley 10
Nevada Union 52, Christian Brothers 20
Oakdale 27, Escalon 13
Palma 48, Hilmar 20
Patterson 28, Lathrop 13
Pioneer 51, Woodland 16
Ponderosa 50, Foothill 6
Rio Americano 49, Del Campo 21
Rio Linda 35, Center 15
River Islands 30, Modesto Christian 14
River Valley 20, Natomas 18
Rio Vista 15, Winters 34
Rodriguez 34, Armijo 0
Rocklin 41, Lincoln 22
Roseville 23, West Park 17
Sacramento 27, Livermore 30
Sacred Heart Prep 35, El Capitan 27
Sheldon 0, Wood 28
Sierra 27, Modesto 6
Sonora 62, Antelope 14
Stagg 37, Grace Davis 21
St. Mary’s 28, Marin Catholic 7
Stone Ridge Christian 34, Chowchilla 22
Summerville 47, Denair 17
Tokay 13, Pleasant Grove 14
Truckee 41, Bear River 20
Turlock 20, Central East 44
Vacaville Christian 40, ASSA 0
Vacaville 20, Casa Grande 14
Vanden 14, Dublin 10
Vintage 49, Fairfield 24
Washington 49, Weston Ranch 13
Waterford 35, Millennium 0
Weston Ranch F, Antioch 2 (Final)
Whitney 27, Twelve Bridges 42
Winters 34, Rio Vista 15
Wood 28, Sheldon 0
Woodcreek 37, Whitney 20
Woodland 16, Pioneer 51
Yuba City 7, Destiny Christian Academy 28
