Ryder Lyons carries Folsom past Oak Ridge for 10th Sac-Joaquin Section title since 2010 — Live game update recap
Of course it was Ryder Lyons.
The strapping, strong and quick 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterbacks may be the best sophomore quarterback in the state and Friday he gave further proof.
That wasn't his intent, more so it was to lead his Folsom Bulldogs to yet another Sac-Joaquin Section title, which he and they did with a thrilling 34-27 Division 1 title win over Oak Ridge at Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College.
Ryder Lyons accounted for 316 yards and five touchdowns in Friday's stirring 34-27 win over Oak Ridge.
Photo: Ralph Thompson
Lyons accounted for all five touchdowns, including a 10-yard run with 34 seconds to play to give the Bulldogs their 10th straight win after starting the season 1-2.
They also won their 10th SJS title since 2010 with a second straight title win over Oak Ridge after last year's victory 23-13.
Folsom also defeated Oak Ridge 42-21 earlier this season and has now won 21 straight in the series, dating back to 2006.
Lyons ran for a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then threw three touchdowns to three different receivers to offset a gritty performance from the Trojans, who fought back from a 20-7 deficit to take tie the game at 20.
After Lyons gave Folsom back the lead 27-20 late in the third with a 25-yard TD pass to Taniela Tupou, Oak Ridge (10-3) simply wouldn't go away as Erick Orme tied it at 27-27 with 8:12 left on a 3-yard TD run.
Folsom advances to a CIF Regional Bowl Game next week. Its opponent will be announced on Sunday.
Follow along below for live updates from the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 championship.
You can also watch Folsom-Oak Ridge live on NFHS Network
California high school football playoffs scoreboard
CIF football playoff brackets
(Refresh for the latest updates once the game starts)
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES
Oak Ridge 27, Folsom 27 — Great response by the Trojans. Long drive, capped by 3-yard touchdown run from Erick Orme. 8:12 4Q.
Folsom 34, Oak Ridge 27 — Who else. Ryder Lyons accounts for his fifth touchdown, this on a 10-yard run with 34 seconds to play.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
Folsom 20, Oak Ridge 17 — Oak Ridge QB Joaquin Graves-Mercado with his second TD pass, a 32-yarder to Joshua Feuerbach. 5:15 3Q.
- Folsom fumble deep in own end, recovered by Oak Ridge.
Oak Ridge 20, Folsom 20 — Alex Henslee drills second field goal, this one 30 yards, ties the game with 3:03 left in 3Q.
Folsom 27, Oak Ridge 20 — Ryder Lyons again, accounts for his fourth touchdown, 25-yard touchdown pass to Taniela Tupou. 0:41 3Q.
SECOND QUARTER
Folsom 20, Oak Ridge 7 — Ryder Lyons accounts for his third touchdown early with 24-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Powell. 8:33 2Q.
- Oak Ridge drives down field, but pass intercepted by RJ Whitten at the Folsom 15.
Folsom 20, Oak Ridge 10 — Oak Ridge again zips downfield to the Folsom 16. Alex Henslee with 33-yard field goal for Oak Ridge. 0:00 2Q.
FIRST QUARTER
Oak Ridge 7, Folsom 0 — The Trojans strike first on a 60-yard pass from Joaquin Graves-Mercado to Gavin Malloy. 10:10 1Q.
Jadon Anderson (6) scooting down the sideline for a touchdown.
Photo: Ralph Thompson
Oak Ridge 7, Folsom 6 — The Bulldogs respond immediately, sophomore QB Ryder Lyons with a 17-yard touchdown run. XP missed. 7:06 2Q.
- Folsom's Elijah Gulewich intercepts a pass and returns to Folsom 26.
Folsom 13, Oak Ridge 7 — Lyons finishes off 26-yard drive with 15-yard touchdown pass to Beckham Andrus. 0:58 1Q
Pregame: Oak Ridge got the rematch it so badly wanted after falling 23-13 to Folsom in last year's title game and dropping a 42-21 decision in a Sierra Foothill League opener this season.
That game game that was tied 14-14 early in the fourth quarter.
What adds to the angst of the Trojans and alums is that Folsom has a 20-game winning streak in the series, dating back to 2006.
Folsom sophomore QB Ryder Lyons passed for 411 yards and four touchdowns and ran for one in the SFL game. Erick Orme rushed for three TDs for Oak Ridge in that game.
Oak Ridge is coming off of a 31-14 victory at No. 2 Central Catholic-Modesto while Folsom held off Inderkum-Sacramento, 36-29.
Oak Ridge is led on defense by senior stars Markus Hoffman, a defensive lineman, and linebacker Gavin Molloy. They'll have to get after Lyons, who has had a Player of the Year sort of season in passing for 2,954 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushing for 630 and 17.
