CALIFORNIA, USA — Folsom High School has a chance for another California high school football title Saturday.
Folsom High School faces St. Bonaventure High School of Ventura at 3:30 p.m. at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo in the Division 1-A title game.
The Folsom Bulldogs have a 12-2 record. The St. Bonaventure Seraphs record is 12-3.
Folsom won state tiles in 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2010. The Bulldogs lost to San Diego's Cathedral Catholic High School in the Division 1-AA title game in 2021.
Folsom is 4-1 in state tile games. St. Bonaventure is 2-1 in title games.
FOLSOM PREVIEW
The team is one win away from their first state title since 2018. The Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders heading into Saturday's matchup, fresh off a victory over Pittsburgh High School.
Wide receiver Brian Ray III is wearing his Junior Bulldogs jersey to get ready for the game.
"I've really been dreaming about this moment ... practicing, preparing for this week my whole entire football career," said Ray.
Teamwork has been key to getting this far.
"I love being part of this team," said quarterback Ryder Lyons. "I feel like we've come together as weeks went on, as more of a team. Our #1 rule as a program is be a team."
Folsom's journey to get to the big game hasn't been easy. They intentionally made it tough by putting together a difficult schedule.
"We're trying to get to the highest level of football in the state of California, the country for that matter," said coach Paul Doherty. "We're trying to get to that Open Division. The two teams that are ahead of us are Serra and De La Salle. We've played those guys in an effort to beat those guys and we came up short."
The Bulldogs are loaded with talent, including Lyons, who was offered a full ride to the University of Southern California. The sophomore is quick to turn the attention to his teammates.
"They make my job really easy," said Lyons. "Our offensive line has been lights out all year. Our defense has been playing lights out. Our skill positions are amazing."
