Folsom continues dominance, pulls away from Oak Ridge late to win 41-21

Sophomore Ryder Lyons accounts for five touchdowns and Brian Ray III has three in a wild victory that features five touchdowns in the fourth quarter, four by Folsom

The streak lives on.

With Ryder Lyons passing for 379 yards and hitting Army-bound receiver Brian Ray III for three touchdowns, SBLIve Sac-Joaquin Section No. 1 Folsom beat Oak Ridge 42-21 in a wild game that was 14 all after three quarters on Friday night at Prairie City Stadium in a Sierra Foothill League opener.

This extends Folsom's winning streak against their Highway 50 rivals to 20 games, dating back to 2006 and including playoff encounters.

Ryder Lyons (3) gets good protection during his team's 41-21 win at Oak Ridge on Friday night. Photo: Ralph Thompson

Folsom is 4-2 with losses to Serra-San Mateo (21-14) and De La Salle-Concord (14-7). Oak Ridge is 5-1.

• Sac-Joaquin Section: Scores 

A stout 6-foot-3 sophomore, Lyons hit Ray for an 18-yard touchdown for a 28-14 lead with 4:26 to play in the fourth quarter, and then with 3:11 left, Lyons hit him again. 

This time, the Lyons extended the play with nifty footwork on 3rd and 15 as Oak Ridge players closed in on him and hit Ray III at the 50, and the swift senior raced in for an 85-yard play as a packed crowd either celebrated or wilted.

Daymion Rivera made it 42-21 for Folsom with a 30-yard run. 

Ryder Lyons (3) with a stiff arm to Markus Hoffman (52). Photo: Ralph Thompson

A 99-yard interception return for a score for Folsom by Daniel Chavez with 2:25 left was negated by a penalty, though Rivera soon scored. 

It was that sort of night.For Oak Ridge coach Casey Taylor, his win total remains at 199. He has a shot for 200 next Friday at Del Oro-Loomis, where he won a string of championships and 149 games.

Pregame: At long last, the Sierra Foothill League kicks off this week, and every game is a doozy. Yes, every league says this sort of thing. But in this league, heavy on Placer County teams and topped by Folsom and Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills, it rings true. Folsom has won six SFL titles since entering the league before the 2014 season with Rocklin taking it in 2021. It's no sure thing for Folsom this season, by any stretch. Oak Ridge wants to crown coach Casey Taylor with his 200th career victory, 149 of those coming when he led Del Oro. For the first time all season, Oak Ridge will be at full strength.

Stay tuned for photos and video on this game.

(All photos below by Ralph Thompson)

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