The Rio Linda Knights will face off against the Casa Roble Rams at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Rio Linda lost a heartbreaker the last time they played Natomas, but it's fair to say they got their revenge given the result of Friday's contest. The Knights blew past the Nighthawks 33-12 last Friday. The win was familiar territory for the Knights, who have now won three matchups in a row.
Joseph Corey
| 09/19/25 @ Natomas | 211 |
| 09/12/25 @ Foothill | 106 |
| 09/05/25 vs Center | 143 |
| 08/29/25 @ Marysville | 85 |
| 08/22/25 vs Lincoln | 30 |
Joseph Corey was his usual excellent self, rushing for 211 yards and two TDs while picking up 10.0 yards per carry. With that strong performance, he is now averaging an impressive 115 rushing yards per game. CJ Cook got in on the action as well, converting a pick into a touchdown.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Rio Linda was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 298 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 155 rushing yards in seven consecutive games dating back to last season.
Rio Linda's defense stepped up as well, laying out the QB 4.5 times. Natomas' QB won't forget Joseph Kalanui anytime soon given he sacked him twice. Cook got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Casa Roble humbled Woodland with a 45-14 victory. The Rams haven't had any issues with the Wolves recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Casa Roble's win came from a few key players Rio Linda will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Aidan Lopez, who threw for 220 yards and five touchdowns. What's more, he racked up 140.9 passer rating, the most he's had since back in November of 2024. Jaylan Barcenas helped Lopez out on the ground, rushing for 103 yards on only eight carries, while also catching one score.
Special teams was a major factor in the game for Casa Roble, racking up 13 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Tariq Lofton, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Rio Linda now has a winning record of 3-2. As for Casa Roble, their win bumped their record up to 4-1.
Rio Linda suffered a grim 28-3 defeat to Casa Roble when the teams last played back in October of 2024. Will the Knights have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
