And so it begins! The skies across our region will glow with stadium lights once again as area youth athletes strap on the pads, cleats, and shiny new helmets to compete under the Friday night lights, kicking off their respective 2024 varsity football seasons this week.
In Folsom, many eyes will be on both the Folsom Bulldogs and the Vista del Lago Eagles as they embark on a new quest to be the best in their respective leagues and ultimately the region. Both teams have a strong outlook for the season ahead. Folsom aims to repeat as champions, while Vista looks to put a heartbreaking season end from last year behind them and push their way into title contention.
Friday night football here excites not just the players, families, and fans but also local business owners. Many are fans of one or both local teams and look forward to the boost in business before and after home games. It’s common for players, families, and fans to patronize local restaurants before and after home games each Friday night, whether they are locals or visitors with a traveling team.
While Folsom has two teams in our immediate coverage area, several in surrounding communities are also contenders. Whether it’s west at Rancho Cordova, east in El Dorado Hills, or a few miles north in Granite Bay, here’s a look at what’s ahead this season locally, starting this week.
Bulldogs Ready to Bite Jackrabbits
The Folsom Bulldogs are eager to start their season. The defending state champions will host Southern California’s Long Beach Poly Friday night in their first non-league matchup of the year.
As usual, practices and last week’s scrimmages have drawn considerable media attention as Folsom looks to defend another title. Last year, Folsom finished its season at 12-2. Over the last 13 years, Folsom has earned five CIF State titles, 10 section titles, and 12 league honors. They are positioned this year to earn a fourth straight Division 1 title if their momentum continues. The team will be led by junior quarterback Ryder Lyons.
As a sophomore last year, Lyons led Folsom to a 13-2 record as a first-year starter. He had three fourth-quarter championship-winning drives: against Oak Ridge in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 Final, against Pittsburgh in the CIF 1-A Regional Final, and against St. Bonaventure in the CIF 1-A State Bowl Game. During the season, he completed 259 of 381 passes for 3,578 yards with 38 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Lyons also carried the ball 226 times for 929 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The matchup will be a good test for Folsom. Long Beach Poly is currently the winningest team in state history with over 800 victories. They have won the CIF Southern Section title 20 times and have sent numerous players to the NFL. Friday’s opener promises to be a barn burner.
View the entire 2024 Folsom Bulldogs football schedule here
Vista’s Eagles Open Season Against Laguna Creek
At Vista del Lago, the Capital Athletic League team looks to build on their 2023 season, which saw only two losses and a trip to the division semi-finals. The Eagles will start their season Friday by hosting Laguna Creek. Like Folsom, Vista is energized for a strong season. Although they are a young team, they have the passion and potential to turn heads.
In 2024, Vista finished the season with an impressive 10-2 record and was in position to earn a Sac-Joaquin Section Division title. However, a late-game push by Patterson ended the Eagles’ season with a 28-19 loss. This season-ending heartbreak was reminiscent of 2022, when the team, then coached by Kyle Landes, fell one game short of a league title.
The young and energetic Eagles will be led by senior quarterback Grant Rogers. Last year, Rogers was a backup to senior John Koett. With Koett now graduated, it’s Rogers’ time to shine. Prior to his varsity stint last year, Rogers led the Vista junior varsity team to a 9-1 season and is ready to take the lead role as Vista seeks the title that narrowly eluded them last year.
View the entire 2024 Vista del Lago football schedule here.
Cordova Opens Year Hosting El Camino
In Rancho Cordova, the Lancers will start their season at home, competing in a new league. Cordova will host El Camino in its first pre-league matchup under the leadership of head coach John Dolliver. The Lancers will compete in the new Metropolitan League, which also includes West Park, Kennedy, McClatchy, Antelope, Destiny Christian Academy, and Grant.
The Lancers will be led by quarterbacks Tristan Smith, a senior, and Trey Wallace. Wide receiver and free safety Dmajae Moses, who led the team last year in receiving yards and touchdowns, returns. Last year, Moses averaged 48.1 receiving yards per game and led the team in touchdowns with nine.
Last year, the Lancers ended their season at 4-6 overall and 3-2 in league play, tying for second place. The Lancers averaged 27.5 points for and 32.9 points against. If Friday’s opponent is anything like last year, the game should be a good opportunity for a win for Big Red as they kick off their 61st season in Rancho Cordova. El Camino finished the 2023 season at 1-9 overall and 0-6 in league competition.
View the entire 2024 Cordova football schedule here.
Oak Ridge Trojans Face Grant in El Dorado Hills
Just over the county line, Oak Ridge High School is always in the hunt for a title. To achieve one, the Trojans need to tackle the biggest obstacle in their way: the Folsom Bulldogs. They will get an early season test when they host Bakersfield-based Frontier this Saturday.
Head coach Casey Taylor continues to lead the Trojans, with senior quarterback Joaquin Graves-Mercado at the helm. The Trojans start the season with the loss of five graduates but still have a dozen returning players. In 2023, the Trojans ended their season at 10-3 and aim to keep up with and surpass Folsom in their journey to playoff contention.
Saturday’s game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Stadium, following earlier games by the Junior Varsity and an afternoon game by the Junior Trojans.
Granite Bay Starts Off Against Elk Grove
Looking northward, the Granite Bay Grizzlies will travel to Rio Americano this Friday. Granite Bay has been a consistent contender for the Sierra Foothill League title over the past two decades, with 26 playoff appearances. The 2012 state champions have a roster mixed with returning starters but lost several key players to graduation last year.
The Grizzlies ended last season at 6-6 overall and 2-3 in league play. As they face the Raiders on the road this Friday, they will compete against a team that finished last season at 9-3.
View the entire Oak Ridge 2024 football schedule by CLICKING HERE.
Folsom Times photo by Bill Sullivan.
Look to Folsom Times’ Friday Night Live feature on game night for scores of not only your local teams but those across the region. Not only do we bring you the final scores on game night but carry a number of progressive results from your local games as a publishing partner with ScoreStream. Scorestream is one of the area’s most popular fan-driven high school sports apps and platforms.
Don’t see a score on game night, you can change that by being a ScoreStream contributor from whatever game you are at. Submit score updates, chat with other fans and more. You can find this week’s schedule of games and previous scores below and learn how to be a contributor by VISITING THEIR WEBSITE/APP HERE.
