Ryder Lyons had photo taken next to teammate but image captured of him pointing with his fingers in a splint on his non-throwing hand was too good not to be edited. Folsom’s junior QB led team to big win in first game. Photo: Mark Tennis.
NorCal Open Division front-runner ranked No. 7 in state opens 2024 season with 63-20 victory on Friday over longtime SoCal powerhouse Long Beach Poly. Bulldogs show they are on the right track to get to that highest level of California football. Jackrabbits will go from facing big-time junior QB to playing a big-time senior QB next week.
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The blue turf at Prairie City Stadium at Folsom High on Friday was seemingly shaking with all of the raucous cheering and music pumping up the fans and students on the home side of the field. There were many adorned with “State Champion” sweatshirts, caps and t-shirts celebrating not just the 2023 CIF D1-A state title but also previous CIF state titles in 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
None of those championships, however, have come in the CIF Open Division. The 2014 team perhaps could have won it if it had played in it, but since 2016 that top division has been the ownership of Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower). No NorCal team since then has been close. There’s only been a couple from SoCal in all those years, too.
Folsom’s preseason expectations this year are similar to 2014 when state and national records fell behind quarterback Jake Browning in a 16-0 campaign. It’s a long way to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 title and a perfect record through the regular season and playoffs, but the Bulldogs definitely took a step in the right direction on Friday with a 63-20 victory over Long Beach Poly.
