Folsom has 14 starters returning from last year's team that finished 14-1 overall. Leading the charge for the Bulldogs are (left to right) Eddie Flores, Bailey Laolagi, Cody Creason, Jake Browning, Sam Whitney and Troy Knox.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
The last game of 2012 for
Folsom (Calif.) ended up a lot like the other 14 — one-sided with a final margin of 30-plus.
But there was one huge difference. For the first time all year, Folsom was on the wrong end of the blowout.
In one of the
most anticipated prep games in Sacramento-area history, Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion Folsom was selected to take on national powerhouse De La Salle (Concord) at Sacramento State in the CIF North Region Open Division final.
Folsom, which had beaten its previous 14 opponents by an average margin of 27 points, was dominated from the start by an athletic, disciplined De La Salle squad that more than lived up to its national ranking.
Quarterback Jake Browning
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
The 49-15 loss was foreign and difficult for the Bulldogs but, with nearly all of their key players returning, that loss may provide extra motivation that takes the 2013 Folsom football team to the next level.
See the entire Preseason Xcellent 25Leading the charge will be young leader
Jake Browning, who announced his presence early last season by tying the California record with
10 touchdown passes in a single game before going on to be named a
MaxPreps Sophomore All-American.
Including Browning, the Bulldogs return 14 starters from last year's squad. The dynamic offense that put up nearly 45 points per game last season will remain largely intact, with the return of leading receiver
Troy Knox and leading rushers
Bailey Laolagi and
Harry Lipnosky.
The defense, which was largely overlooked last season due to the prolific offense, loses sack leader Quincy Capel to graduation, but returns six starters including linemen
Cody Creason and
Sam Whitney.
The secondary, which compiled 10 interceptions last season, will be led by senior
Rodney Ellison and junior
Jake Morgado.
With an extra year of experience and a sparkling offensive system, Folsom has gone from a local power in 2012 to a national contender in 2013.
See the entire Folsom football photo galleryLocal look: "The Bulldogs are the clear top-ranked team in the Sac-Joaquin Section, and perhaps in all of Northern California behind De La Salle, which ended Folsom's 14-0 start last season. That crushing loss to De La Salle has served to better mold the Bulldogs, who realized to be the best, sometimes you have to be thumped by the best. Great coaching staff, great system, great players in place for another title run."
- Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee (@SacBee_JoeD)
