Bulldogs pull out big win over Serra, 56-42

For the first time in four meetings, Folsom High's varsity football team defeated Serra in a high-scoring affair, 56-42. After three one-score losses against the Padres, and in last year's case, a heartbreaking loss, the Bulldogs finally got the best of them, but what does it mean? "I don't know if it means anything to anyone but us," Folsom High coach Paul Doherty said. "We like to schedule tough opponents to challenge the program and we went on the road and found a quality opponent. We're always trying to play a team much better than us, the Serra's, the De La Salle's, the Pittsburg's. You might get your teeth kicked in, but going through that is a huge experience for high school kids. As far as what it means big picture, we'll have to wait and see." This looked like a Folsom game from 10 to 15 years ago when the Bulldogs simply outscored teams, before their defense got some grit. The game was tied at 42 late in the fourth quarter before Folsom scored two answered touchdowns in the final two minutes on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Ryder Lyons to Jameson Powell followed by a pick-six from E.J. Coleman that he returned 42 yards for a score. For the second straight week, Lyons had an outstanding game, as he threw four touchdown passes and ran in three others. Three touchdown passes went to Jameson Powell and the other went to Rob Larson. "I think Ryder is playing well," Doherty said. "He's playing within the system and he's playing with a lot of confidence. You combine his ability and talent with the confidence he's got right now and that's a recipe for success. He's really grown. He's a had a lot of reps the last three years and he's able to play at a quicker pace, as the game has slowed down for him." After doing nothing on their first possession and punting the football, Folsom rattled off five straight scores the rest of the half, as they led 35-25 at halftime. Folsom struggled mightily in the third quarter. Serra drove down and missed a field goal, giving the Bulldogs, with their sixth straight touchdown, a chance to go up by three scores. Instead, Lyons threw a pick-six and the game was again a close one, 35-32. Folsom ended up punting on its next possession and Serra answered with another touchdown to take their first lead, 39-35, since leading 18-14. As the Bulldogs moved the ball down the field, Lyons capped off the next drive with a 10-yard run where he waltzed into the end zone barely touched, putting the Bulldogs in front 42-39. Serra answered with a crazy 52-yard field goal that tied the game with about two minutes to play, setting up Folsom's final two scores. "I think we just have a completely different team and team dynamic this season," Doherty said. "I'm happy with how we responded to playing on the road on a Saturday afternoon. It's a big difference for teenagers. "Last year we were shutting teams out; holding teams to zero; our offense was the beneficiary of stops, takeaways and great field position," Doherty said. "Today our offense gave a little bit back to our defense. We scored on seven of our 11 possessions and it's what we needed." While Folsom allowed 42 points to Serra, Doherty felt they played well. "Our defense is doing great," Doherty said. "We've got different personnel this year and they're doing a great job adapting. They're playing to their strengths. The coaches are doing a great job. We're not playing for shutouts; we're playing to win." Folsom now must prepare for their biggest test in a number of years and perhaps ever, as they travel south to face Mission Viejo, a team that has won their first two games on the road. "Mission Viejo is a top-five team in a country," Doherty said. "They've got better players than we do and that's extremely rare. They've beaten a very good Santa Margarita team that just beat Centennial. "This is as good as high school football gets. That's what Folsom wants to be. The bar is set. We're taking our five-star quarterback and going down there and win, lose or draw, it will be good for the team and the program, as long as we come out of that game healthy."