Folsom would love a win Friday night

The last three seasons, Serra High School has played in the CIF State Open Division championship football game, and all three times have been blown out by two southern California powerhouses, Mater Dei last year, 35-0, and in 2021, 44-7, and St. John Bosco in 2022, 45-0. There is no question Folsom has been wanting the same opportunity to play in the open division against the best team from southern California for years dating back to when Kris Richardson was the head coach of the Bulldogs. If Folsom can beat Serra on Friday night on their home field that would be a huge step in the right direction for the Bulldogs. "They've been the best team in northern California the last three years and that's why we schedule them," Folsom coach Paul Doherty said. "They beat us physically the last two years, but they've also brought the best out of us and we've gotten better after playing them. "We've got to match their physicality and I think we're up for the challenge. We're going to have to sustain the early wave of momentum. They're the three-time defending Nor-Cal champs and we're going to have to be ready from the jump, because last year they scored 21 points on us in the first quarter." The Bulldogs lost to Serra a season ago, 21-14, and also lost to them in 2022, 17-12. Folsom/Long Beach Poly Folsom was confident they were going to beat Long Beach Poly, but none of the coaches were thinking about a 63-20 victory. The Bulldogs, almost looking in mid-season form, totally controlled the game from start to finish in Friday night's season-opening win. On both sides of the ball, it started at the line of scrimmage, which the Bulldogs owned; especially on defense, as Lua DeBerry, Nela Tupou and Theo Greule were too tough to tame. "We played well defensively," Doherty said. "Lua DeBerry, Theo Greule and Nela Tupou were really good up front a year ago and they've got a chance to be even better this year." "It's all about team chemistry," said Tupou. "We all have pride in what we do. We knew we were getting to them. We just kept working." Folsom allowed a touchdown on Long Beach Poly's first drive of the game, but then shut them out for the rest of the first half. Offensively, Folsom scored on its first three drives before taking it in the end zone a fourth time just before halftime, as the Bulldogs led 27-7 at the break. The Bulldogs came out and ran the ball effectively behind the blocking of linemen Malachi Coleman, Luke Sorensen, Zach Ramirez, Isaac Ross and Vlad Dyakonov. Coleman, Ramirez and Dyakonov were making their first varsity start. "We showed everybody what we're about," Sorensen said. "We made a statement, to say the least. Our communication was the key. We still have a lot of work to do, and we'll play better next week." Added associate head coach Jordan Banning, "We played really well and displaced them a lot. A few drives we didn't play well, but that's to be expected. Overall for Week 1, I'm pretty pleased with how they did." The line, for starters, blocked well in the run game, as Carter Jackson, Daymion Rivera and Ryder Lyons, who combined to gain 167 yards in the first half and touchdown runs for Rivera and Lyons, while Jackson had two scores in the third quarter. "It was a great night," Jackson said. "We knew they'd be aggressive, we just had to adjust to their alignment. We expected to be successful running the ball. We've got really big guys up front and we're able to block it up. "Daymion and I are different backs. I'm more a hard-nosed runner, and Daymion is more shifty like a cat. We have a really good dynamic that makes it hard for opposing teams to stop us." Lyons 16-yard touchdown run right before halftime was impressive, as tipsy-toed his was down the sideline before barreling his way into the end zone for the improbable score. Lyons also threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tupou and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Powell in the second half. "When I get the ball I have high intentions," Lyons said. "I'm very competitive, probably the most competitive guy out on the field so if I see a chance to score I'm going to go for it. That may be a flaw, but we're working on it. My body doesn't like to just go down." Lyons continued, "We've worked so hard, the whole team. We're excited and ready to go. The defense played great tonight. I know I have to execute better; I was a little jumpy in the first half. I'm happy we got the win." Folsom added three more scores in the game. Jasiah Banks intercepted a pass and returned it about 30 yards for a touchdown, and the Bulldogs defense was credited with a safety when Long Beach's quarterback was called for intentional grounding while in the end zone. In the fourth quarter, Folsom's defense scored again when Gavin Murphy scooped up a fumble and returned the ball about 10 yards for the a touchdown. Doherty was pleased with the win and felt his team played a good game, but had reminder for the team after the game. "It's never as good as you think and it's never as bad as you think," Doherty told the team. "What kind of teams win championships? The team answered "mature." We're loaded and we've got a good team, but mature teams know who's on the kickoff team or who's on the kickoff return team or punt return. That's on me; I'm the head coach, but you've got to take control of it with me."