Unbeaten Folsom opens SFL play against Rocklin; Vista, Oak Ridge, Granite Bay and Casa Roble also begin league play; Cordova looks to improve its 3-0 season in non-league
The first few weeks of high school football provided the tests, the road trips, the statement wins and, for some teams, a few early lessons. This week, the season takes on a different feel as league play arrives for many of the area’s squads.
Folsom, Oak Ridge and Granite Bay begin the grind of the Sierra Foothill League, Vista del Lago opens Capital Valley Conference play and Casa Roble begins its Golden Empire League schedule. With league championships, postseason positioning and November football beginning to come into focus, the results from here carry a little more weight.
Folsom enters that stretch exactly where it wanted to be. The defending state champion Bulldogs are 4-0 after completing an unbeaten non-league schedule and return home Friday to face another unbeaten team in Rocklin in their Sierra Foothill League opener.
Vista del Lago opens Capital Valley Conference play on the road against Bella Vista, Oak Ridge welcomes unbeaten Del Oro in another major Sierra Foothill League matchup, Granite Bay takes its perfect record to unbeaten Jesuit, and Casa Roble begins Golden Empire League play at home against Sutter.
Cordova is the exception this week. The unbeaten Lancers remain in their non-league schedule and travel to Pinole Valley Friday as they continue preparing for Metropolitan League play later in the season.
Folsom brings perfect start home for Rocklin
Four games into its season, Folsom has been tested in several different ways and answered each one.
The Bulldogs survived an overtime battle with Cardinal Newman 23-17 in their opener, avenged their only loss from last season with a 35-21 victory over Mission Viejo, overcame three early interceptions to defeat Sacred Heart Cathedral 49-24 in San Francisco and then delivered their most dominant performance yet last week.
Folsom overwhelmed Inderkum 56-0 in Sacramento, improving to 4-0 while recording its first shutout of the season. The Bulldogs have scored 163 points through four games while allowing 62, and their current winning streak extends back into last season’s championship run.
Quarterback Brody Rudnicki continued his strong start against Inderkum, completing 18 passes for 223 yards and five touchdowns. The senior has given Folsom both a passing and running threat throughout the opening month, including a five-touchdown performance against Mission Viejo in which he threw for two scores and ran for three.
Now the slate essentially resets as the Bulldogs enter the Sierra Foothill League, where there will be little room to ease into the schedule.
Rocklin arrives in Folsom at 3-0 and has been even more difficult to score against. The Thunder have allowed only seven points through three games, opening with a 46-7 victory over Turlock before posting consecutive shutouts against Bishop Manogue, 33-0, and Pleasant Valley, 45-0. Rocklin has outscored its opponents 124-7 entering Friday.
That makes the SFL opener an immediate collision between one of the region’s most productive offenses and a defense that has surrendered one touchdown all season. It also begins what remains one of the most demanding league schedules in Northern California.
Folsom’s remaining Sierra Foothill League schedule includes Granite Bay, Whitney, Oak Ridge, Del Oro and Jesuit. Friday is the first step in that six-game stretch and the beginning of the Bulldogs’ pursuit of another league championship.
Folsom and Rocklin kick off at 7 p.m. Friday in Folsom.
Vista takes momentum on the road to Bella Vista
Vista del Lago had to wait an extra week to enjoy its first victory, but the Eagles enter Capital Valley Conference play with considerably more momentum than their 1-2 overall record might suggest.
After opening with losses to Granite Bay and Antelope, Vista broke through Sept. 11 with a 42-23 victory over Reed of Sparks, Nevada. The Eagles trailed twice during the first half before taking control after halftime, scoring three second-half touchdowns while their defense repeatedly stopped Reed on fourth down.
Vista scored six touchdowns in the victory, four through the air and two on the ground. The Eagles outscored Reed 21-7 after halftime and turned what had been a five-point game into a 19-point victory.
That performance followed an encouraging offensive showing against Antelope, when quarterback Jacoby More threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns and Cael Rens finished with 106 receiving yards and two scores. The progression has taken Vista from a difficult 47-16 opening loss at Granite Bay to a six-point loss against Antelope and then a convincing win over Reed.
After a bye last week, the Eagles now head to Fair Oaks to face Bella Vista in their Capital Valley Conference opener.
Bella Vista enters at 2-1 and has rebounded emphatically from a 61-20 season-opening loss to Twelve Bridges. The Broncos followed with a 48-9 victory over Casa Roble and then shut out Del Campo 54-0, scoring 102 points during their two-game winning streak.
For Vista, the challenge will be carrying the offensive rhythm it found against Reed through the week off and onto the road. Friday begins a Capital Valley Conference stretch that will also include Rio Americano, Christian Brothers, Inderkum, Woodcreek and Ponderosa.
Vista del Lago and Bella Vista kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks.
Oak Ridge gets unbeaten Del Oro in league opener
Oak Ridge had an extra week to prepare for Sierra Foothill League play, and the Trojans will need it.
The 2-1 Trojans open their SFL schedule at home against a Del Oro team that arrives in El Dorado Hills with a 4-0 record.
Oak Ridge’s non-league schedule offered little room for easing into the season. The Trojans traveled to Texas and edged Argyle 27-26 in their opener, returned home and fell 20-14 to Central East of Fresno, then headed to Irvine and defeated Crean Lutheran 28-21.
The Crean Lutheran victory showed Oak Ridge’s ability to play from in front. The Trojans jumped ahead 14-0 in the first quarter, carried a 21-15 advantage into halftime and added another touchdown in the fourth before holding off the Saints. Oak Ridge never trailed in the game.
Del Oro provides another substantial challenge. The Golden Eagles are 4-0 and have scored 146 points while allowing 63. They opened with a 42-20 victory over Downey, edged Saint Francis 19-17, rolled past Foothill 44-6 and defeated Vanden 41-20 last week.
The matchup gives Oak Ridge an immediate opportunity to establish itself as the Sierra Foothill League race begins. There are few soft spots waiting afterward, either. The Trojans travel to Rocklin next week and still have SFL games against Folsom, Jesuit, Granite Bay and Whitney ahead.
Oak Ridge and Del Oro kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills.
Granite Bay, Jesuit put perfect records on the line
Something has to give in Carmichael Friday night when two unbeaten teams begin Sierra Foothill League play.
Granite Bay is 3-0 after putting together an impressive opening month, while Jesuit enters the matchup at 4-0.
The Grizzlies began their season with a 47-16 victory over Vista del Lago, followed with a 55-21 win over Cosumnes Oaks and returned from a bye last week to defeat Ponderosa 37-26 on the road. Granite Bay has scored 139 points through three games, an average of more than 46 per contest.
That start is notable for a program that entered the season replacing a sizable group from last year’s 9-4 team. Quarterback Dominic Cattolico was among the important returners, and the Grizzlies have shown little difficulty finding points despite the turnover in personnel.
Jesuit has been equally impressive. The Marauders have defeated Lincoln 33-14, Rio Americano 40-7, Chico 28-14 and Christian Brothers 49-34. Jesuit has scored 150 points while allowing 69 and enters Sierra Foothill League play with four consecutive victories.
Friday therefore gives both programs an immediate measuring stick in a league where nearly every week brings another high-level opponent. Granite Bay’s challenge becomes even larger after Friday, with defending state champion Folsom next on the Grizzlies’ league schedule Oct. 2.
Granite Bay and Jesuit kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Jesuit High School in Carmichael.
Casa Roble looks for fresh start as Sutter comes to Orangevale
For Casa Roble, the beginning of Golden Empire League play offers an opportunity to turn the page on a difficult opening stretch.
The Rams enter their GEL opener at 0-3 after losses to Placer, Bella Vista and Ponderosa. Casa Roble came closest in its opener, falling 18-13 at Placer, before losses of 48-9 at Bella Vista and 49-13 at home against Ponderosa.
Against Ponderosa, the Rams found themselves in a 43-7 halftime hole before continuing to battle through the second half. Casa Roble scored on the ground in the third quarter and held Ponderosa scoreless after the Bruins returned a blocked punt for a touchdown early in the second half.
The Rams have had a bye week to regroup, but their Golden Empire League opener brings another significant challenge to Orangevale.
Sutter arrives at 3-0 after winning three very different games. The Huskies opened with a 49-28 road victory over Bishop Lynch in Texas, defeated Douglas 26-14 in Nevada and returned home to shut out Bradshaw Christian 39-0. Sutter has scored 114 points while allowing 42.
Casa Roble will be looking to use the start of Golden Empire League play as a reset. After Sutter, the Rams step back outside league competition to face Nevada Union on Oct. 2 before returning to GEL play against Woodland, Rio Linda, Natomas, Dixon and El Camino.
Casa Roble and Sutter kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Casa Roble High School in Orangevale.
Cordova puts unbeaten start back on the road
While the other area squads begin their respective league schedules, Cordova still has some non-league business to take care of.
The Lancers are 3-0 after opening with consecutive home victories over Sheldon and Kennedy before going on the road last week and defeating Rio Americano 27-21. Cordova has scored 95 points while allowing 53 through its first three games.
The start represents a significant turnaround after a difficult 2025 season. Cordova opened this year by entering the fourth quarter trailing Sheldon 16-12 before exploding for 21 unanswered points, including a defensive touchdown, to win 33-16. The Lancers followed with a 35-16 victory over Kennedy before proving last week that their early success could travel with them.
Friday sends Cordova farther from home for another non-league matchup at Pinole Valley.
The Spartans enter at 0-4 and have been outscored 146-52. Pinole Valley lost to Berkeley 38-18, El Cerrito 49-13 and Jesse M. Bethel 16-14 before falling 43-7 at Benicia last week.
Cordova still has one more non-league game against Vallejo before Metropolitan League play begins. For now, the Lancers have another opportunity to extend their unbeaten start and continue building momentum before the results begin counting toward the Metro League standings.
Cordova and Pinole Valley kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Pinole Valley High School.
For the squads chasing league championships and postseason berths, the opening portion of the schedule is largely over. From here, the standings start telling the story.
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