This was a biggie, bigger than normal.
It was
Folsom vs.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), a rumble amid rivals and the MaxPreps Game of the Week Presented By T-Mobile that was every bit as good as advertised.
Ranked second in the MaxPreps Northern California rankings, Folsom held off No. 5 Oak Ridge 28-21 in a Sierra Foothill League clash that could well decide the race for perhaps the best and deepest league in the region this season.
Folsom moved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the SFL, and Oak Ridge dropped to 4-3 with its third crushing tight loss, following setbacks to Massachusetts powerhouse
Tabor Academy (Marion, Mass.) and to NorCal No. 3
Central East (Fresno).
What's more, Folsom extended its remarkable winning streak over Oak Ridge to 26 games, dating back to 2007. Folsom coach Paul Doherty told his team after the game, “This is not our Super Bowl. I want you to enjoy it. You should enjoy it with your team. You should enjoy it with your school. It means a lot to have Folsom on the front of your chest and no name on the back (of your jersey).”
Folsom quarterback Brody Rudnicki ran for three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter to lead the NorCal-ranked No. 2 Bulldogs to their 26th consecutive victory over Sierra Foothill League rival Oak Ridge on Friday. (PHOTO: Steve Cason)
1.
De La Salle (Concord), (7-0)
2.
Folsom, (8-0)
3.
Central East (Fresno), (7-0)
4.
Junipero Serra (San Mateo), (6-1)
5.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), (4-3)
6.
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), (5-2)
7.
Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento), (7-0)
8.
Grant (Sacramento), (5-2)
9.
San Ramon Valley (Danville), (7-0)
10.
Del Oro (Loomis), (6-1)
11.
Rocklin, (5-2)
13.
Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), (5-2)
14.
Los Gatos, (6-1)
15.
Pittsburg (4-3)
Taking on Folsom has become the Super Bowl of sorts for SFL teams and those in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. Why? Because it's Folsom, and everyone wants a piece of the top dog, or, in this case, the Bulldogs. Folsom also extended its SFL winning streak to 26 in winning for the 81st time in the last 83 SFL outings.
Folsom coaches say their Super Bowl is the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section title game, of which the Bulldogs have won plenty. Since 2010, Folsom has won 12 section banners, including the last five under Doherty, four of those in succession against Oak Ridge at Sacramento City College's famed Hughes Stadium.
Do we hear rematch? That could and should happen.
Folsom has also collected six CIF state crowns since 2010. If the CIF finals are not the program's Super Bowl, then it's a Super Bowl with gravy dripping down the side. Folsom won its most recent CIF state banners in 2023 and 2025.
Oak Ridge impressed in the first half in scoring on each of its first three drives behind stellar quarterback play by
Nick Johnson. He passed for 234 yards in the first half and 269 total. But Oak Ridge was undone by four turnovers and some bad luck.
A 1-yard touchdown plunge by Johnson to tie the game at 28 midway through the fourth quarter was not ruled a score by the referees. A moment later, the drive ended with an end zone interception by Folsom's
Travis Beatty. A late-drive reception by an Oak Ridge receiver was ruled incomplete, and the Trojans soon turned the ball over on downs and Folsom ran out the clock in front of a packed, frenzied crowd.
For Folsom, Cal-bound quarterback
Brody Rudnicki passed for 234 yards, and he scored on three short touchdown runs.
Osias Bolton rushed for 115 yards for Folsom, and UCLA-bound receiver
Rob Larson had nine receptions for 115 yards.
Larson and his teammates were beaming afterward.
"We love playing in games like this," he said.
Said Oak Ridge coach Casey Taylor, "We were right (freaking) there. I feel for the kids. We have to score from the 1-yard line. Things just didn't go our way, and Folsom's really good, too."
