Vista del Lago, Granite Bay, Casa Roble suffer losses in tough night on the turf
After cruising through its final non-league tuneup a week ago, Folsom found itself in an entirely different kind of football game Friday night. Rocklin made sure of that.
The Bulldogs were pushed deep into the night by the previously unbeaten Thunder before finally emerging with a 29-23 double-overtime victory in a dramatic Sierra Foothill League opener Friday night in Folsom. The victory improved Folsom to 5-0 and extended the Bulldogs’ unbeaten start to the 2026 season, but this one came with considerably more drama than their 56-0 victory over Inderkum just six days earlier.
Rocklin arrived with a defense that had been nearly impenetrable through its first three games. The Thunder entered Friday 3-0 and had surrendered only seven points all season, posting consecutive shutouts after opening the year with a 46-7 victory over Turlock.
Folsom, meanwhile, entered averaging more than 40 points per game and had already demonstrated an ability to win in different ways. Friday night required another one, as Rocklin did what no opponent had done since Folsom’s season opener against Cardinal Newman — keep the Bulldogs locked in a game that could not be decided in four quarters.
Even one overtime wasn’t enough. The teams remained deadlocked at 23-23 after the first extra period, sending the Sierra Foothill League rivals into a second overtime before Folsom finally created the separation it had been searching for all night.
Folsom opened the second overtime with possession at Rocklin’s 25-yard line. After the Bulldogs moved the ball to the 16, quarterback Brody Rudnicki took matters into his own hands on third down, breaking free for a 16-yard rushing touchdown that put Folsom in front 29-23.
That left the game in the hands of the Folsom defense. Rocklin began its second-overtime possession at the Bulldogs’ 25 and kept its hopes alive by converting on fourth down to reach the Folsom 9-yard line. With the Thunder threatening to answer Rudnicki’s touchdown and extend the game again, the Bulldogs needed one final stop.
They got it from EJ Coleman. Coleman intercepted Rocklin’s next attempt, ending the Thunder’s comeback bid and setting off the celebration as Folsom finally secured the 29-23 victory.
The dramatic finish provided another big moment for Rudnicki, the returning quarterback who has been at the center of Folsom’s offense throughout its unbeaten start. The senior entered the season after helping lead the Bulldogs to the 2025 CIF Division I-AA state championship and has continued to direct an offense that entered Friday averaging more than 40 points per game.
Just one week earlier, Rudnicki threw five touchdown passes as Folsom overwhelmed Inderkum 56-0 in Sacramento. Against Rocklin, the circumstances were dramatically different, and when the Bulldogs needed points most, it was Rudnicki’s 16-yard run in the second overtime that finally put Folsom ahead for good.
The six-point final margin reflected just how tight the contest remained throughout the night. It was Folsom’s second overtime victory of the season after the Bulldogs opened the year with a 27-20 overtime victory against Cardinal Newman.
Folsom followed that season-opening thriller by defeating Mission Viejo at home and Sacred Heart Cathedral on the road before rolling past Inderkum. Rocklin presented the Bulldogs with their toughest challenge since opening night and nearly became the first team to hand Folsom a loss this season.
Friday also represented a dramatic change from Folsom’s previous outing. Against Inderkum, the Bulldogs raced away early and never looked back, recording their first shutout of the season. There would be no such runaway against a Rocklin defense that entered Friday having allowed only one touchdown all year.
The Thunder had outscored their first three opponents 124-7, setting up a matchup between one of the region’s most productive offenses and one of its stingiest defenses. That matchup lived up to its billing as Rocklin forced Folsom to work for every bit of its fifth victory.
For Folsom, the result also marked the beginning of a demanding Sierra Foothill League schedule. The Bulldogs entered Friday having completed a perfect 4-0 non-league slate and now move forward into league play with their unbeaten record intact and another close-game victory under their belt.
Folsom will take its 5-0 record on the road next Friday, Oct. 2, when the Bulldogs travel to Granite Bay for another Sierra Foothill League matchup. Rocklin fell to 3-1 with Friday night’s loss.
Oak Ridge hands rival Del Oro its first loss
Oak Ridge also started Sierra Foothill League play on the winning side Friday night, turning back previously unbeaten Del Oro 26-20 in El Dorado Hills.
The Trojans entered the night coming off a road victory over Crean Lutheran and made it two straight wins by turning back a Del Oro team that had rolled through its non-league schedule without a loss. The victory improved Oak Ridge to 3-1 overall while Del Oro fell to 4-1.
Friday’s matchup brought together two programs that were no strangers to close games. Oak Ridge opened its season in Texas with a dramatic 27-26 victory over Argyle before falling 20-14 to Central East at home. The Trojans responded by traveling south and defeating Crean Lutheran 28-21 on Sept. 11.
Del Oro had followed a different path into league play. The Golden Eagles opened with a 42-20 victory over Downey, escaped with a 19-17 road win over Saint Francis and then defeated Foothill 44-6. They followed that with a 41-20 victory over Vanden to improve to 4-0 before making the trip to El Dorado Hills.
Friday’s six-point victory gave Oak Ridge an important win as the Sierra Foothill League schedule got underway and continued the Trojans’ rebound from their only loss of the season. After being held to 14 points against Central East, Oak Ridge has answered with consecutive victories and will now take that momentum into another difficult league matchup.
The win also continued Oak Ridge’s recent success against Del Oro. The Trojans defeated the Golden Eagles 12-8 in Loomis last season, and this time Oak Ridge protected its home field, once again finding a way past Del Oro in a game decided by one possession.
Oak Ridge will remain in Sierra Foothill League play next week when the Trojans travel to Rocklin for a 7:30 p.m. matchup Friday, Oct. 2. Del Oro will have a week off before returning to league action against Jesuit on Oct. 9.
Vista del Lago has tough night on the road
Vista del Lago had a tougher Friday night away from home, as the Eagles fell 34-21 to Bella Vista in Fair Oaks.
The Eagles entered the matchup looking to build on their first victory of the season after defeating Reed 42-23 in their previous outing. In that game, Vista overcame an early 14-0 deficit before surging ahead for the victory, showing the kind of offensive response the Eagles hoped to carry into Friday night.
Bella Vista had other plans. The Broncos protected their home field and handed Vista del Lago its third loss of the season, dropping the Eagles to 1-3 overall.
For Vista, the loss halted an opportunity to build some momentum following the win over Reed. The Eagles will now look to regroup after a difficult night in Fair Oaks and turn their attention to their next matchup.
Cordova erases early deficit, rolls to 4-0
Cordova’s unbeaten start continued in comeback fashion Friday night, as the Lancers erased an early 13-point deficit and scored 28 unanswered points to defeat Pinole Valley 28-13 on the road.
Things initially went Pinole Valley’s way. Quarterback Cash Herbert connected on a 50-yard touchdown pass to put the Spartans ahead 7-0 and later found another receiver for an 8-yard touchdown, giving Pinole Valley a 13-0 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
Cordova’s defense had already provided an early spark when Chief Goodman intercepted Herbert in the opening quarter, but it was in the second period that the Lancers began turning the game around. Cordova got on the board with an 8-yard rushing touchdown and successful extra point to cut the deficit to 13-7.
The Lancers struck again before halftime, this time through the air with a 40-yard touchdown pass. The extra point put Cordova ahead 14-13, completing a 14-point second-quarter response after the Lancers had been shut out in the opening period.
Cordova carried that momentum into the second half, and its defense quickly became the difference. The Lancers intercepted a Pinole Valley pass and took possession at the Spartans’ 20-yard line. Cordova immediately capitalized with a 20-yard touchdown pass, extending its advantage to 21-13.
The biggest defensive play of the night came later in the third quarter. After Herbert broke loose on a long run that moved Pinole Valley to the Cordova 24, the Lancers came up with another interception. This one went the other way in a hurry, as Cordova’s No. 4 returned the pick 90 yards for a touchdown to stretch the lead to 28-13.
By then, Cordova had scored 28 consecutive points after trailing 13-0. The Lancers’ defense made sure the comeback stood, forcing Pinole Valley to turn the ball over on downs later in the third quarter and twice more in the fourth.
Neither team scored in the final period, and Cordova closed out the 28-13 victory to improve to 4-0. The Lancers have now opened the season with wins over Sheldon, Kennedy, Rio Americano and Pinole Valley.
Cordova will return home with its perfect record intact to host Vallejo next Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:15 p.m. The matchup will be the Lancers’ final tuneup before Metropolitan League play begins Oct. 9 on the road against West Park.
Casa Roble shut out by Sutter in Orangevale
Casa Roble had a difficult night at home Friday as the Rams fell 42-0 to unbeaten Sutter in Orangevale, dropping to 0-4 on the season.
Sutter entered the matchup unbeaten and quickly put Casa Roble in a hole, building a 13-0 advantage during the first half before continuing to pull away. The Huskies eventually stretched the margin to 42 points while keeping the Rams off the scoreboard throughout the night.
For Casa Roble, the loss continued a difficult start to the 2026 campaign. The Rams entered Friday still looking for their first victory after losses in each of their first three games, including a 49-13 setback against Ponderosa in their previous outing.
Sutter, meanwhile, remained perfect at 4-0 with the victory and handed Casa Roble its first league loss. The Rams will look to regroup next Friday, Oct. 2, when they remain at home to face Nevada Union at 7 p.m.
Granite Bay suffers first loss in shutout at Jesuit
Granite Bay’s unbeaten start came to an abrupt end Friday night as the Grizzlies were shut out 35-0 by Jesuit in their Sierra Foothill League opener in Carmichael.
The Grizzlies entered league play 3-0 after putting together an impressive non-league run that included a 47-16 victory over Vista del Lago, a 55-21 win over Cosumnes Oaks and a 37-26 road victory over Ponderosa. Granite Bay had scored 139 points across those three games before running into a Jesuit defense that kept the Grizzlies off the scoreboard for the first time this season.
Jesuit entered the matchup unbeaten as well and continued its perfect start with the victory. The Marauders improved to 5-0 after previously defeating Lincoln, Rio Americano, Chico and Christian Brothers, making Friday night their first shutout of the season.
The loss dropped Granite Bay to 3-1 and 0-1 in Sierra Foothill League play, but the Grizzlies won’t have much time to dwell on it. Their next test comes at home Friday, Oct. 2, against unbeaten Folsom, setting up another major league matchup after the Bulldogs survived Rocklin in double overtime Friday night.
Friday’s results left Folsom unbeaten at 5-0, Cordova perfect at 4-0, Oak Ridge at 3-1 following consecutive victories, Vista del Lago at 1-3, Casa Roble at 0-4 and Granite Bay at 3-1. Full regional scoreboard to come below.
Copyright © 2026, Folsom Times, a digital product of All Town Media LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
