Folsom, Oak Ridge ready for battle

Granite Bay and Rocklin have given Folsom High's football team their only two league losses since joining the Sierra Foothill League in 2013 and both came in 2021. Could Oak Ridge be the next team to give the Bulldogs (7-0 overall, 3-0 in league) a loss in league? They'll get their chance on their home field on Friday night. If there was ever a season over the last 20 years in which Oak Ridge (4-2, 2-0) had a good shot to beat the Bulldogs it's this year. The Trojans have all the pieces they need; they've played a very tough non-league schedule and have already picked up two big league wins over Rocklin and Del Oro. Plus, while the Bulldogs have gotten healthier over the last couple weeks, they're still missing some key players in offensive lineman Malachi Coleman, who's out for the season, defensive linemen Javion Dorsett and Gabe Anderson and receiver Carter Williams. Defensive back Daniel Eagleton might be back for Friday's game, as might running back Osias Bolton, but they might not be. Linebacker EJ Coleman did not play against Whitney, but should be back this week. The good news for the Bulldogs was that receiver Rob Larson and running back Joseph Eyerman VI saw their first action of the season last week against Whitney, while offensive lineman Zach Ramirez also returned from a back injury. The key to winning Friday's game is simple in the mind of Folsom coach Paul Doherty. "We've got to play better than they do," he said. "It always comes down to that. Whether we've had the better team in past seasons or Oak Ridge has, whichever team plays better wins. That's a tough challenge. This is an up year for Oak Ridge. They've played better than us. We've got to throw the ball better than them. We've got to run the ball better and catch the ball better. We've got to play better defense than they play. We threw two interceptions against Whitney. We can't have that against Oak Ridge." Doherty said his team has played seven weeks without a bye and the team is tired and injured, but getting healthier. The Bulldogs are coming off a 49-25 win over Whitney. Four of their touchdowns came from rushes, as Bronson Bambino scored twice and Brody Rudnicki and Eyerman VI scored one time. Rudnicki also had a touchdown pass to Rockwell Lyons. CJ Wallace had a punt return for a score, while Justice Nonoguchi also had a pick-six.