padrewhipser said:

Yeah i am quite surprised. I thought this was supposed to be Folsom's year. I bought into the hype as well. My opinion on Folsom is that they play to arrogant. 4th and something, the ball is on your 3 yard line and you don't punt. Lyons runs and gets stopped way short of the first and then Serra has the ball on the 20 and scores a couple of plays later. to go up 13-0.

I guess Serra is better than we thought, at least better than I thought. Folsom will be fine, a long season,

Click to expand...

Time to face the facts. Serra of the past few years is very DLS-like in terms of discipline and physicality, especially on defense. And that has always been Folsom's Achilles heel. Hell, it's the Achilles heel for most high school programs, so no real knock on Folsom.

But they are 2-10 all-time against both those programs now. Furthermore, when Rocklin waxed Folsom in 2021 then played close games in 2022 and 2023, the Thunder fielded teams "similar" to DLS and Serra in that they were discipline and physical on the defensive side of the ball. Same applies to Monterey Trail in 2019.

When Folsom's talent advantage (if there is one) is neutralized, preparation and coaching can beat them.

Folsom's had a few teams where they had the physicality and discipline advantage on most the teams teams they faced (2014, 2015, 2018) but the vast majority of the time they've largely relied upon the talent disparity.

ThunderRam said:

I didn't see the entire game either, but plan to re-watch it on demand.

I had to take my wife to the airport tonight for a 9:30pm flight so I was catching bits and pieces here and there. While my wife drove, I watched the beginning of the Grant-DLS and Rocklin-Bishop Manogue games at 7:30. I did get to see most the 2nd half of the Folsom-Serra game once I returned home but was distracted by the other games I had streaming at the same time.

I'm crazy like that 😂

Click to expand...

HA!… That’s why you are Da Man!… 🤣

I am still trying to Grasp how I was so quick to start discussing who would beat Serra worse. Folsom or SJB…. 🤣🤣

I way underestimated Serra,…. I am truly shocked though that Folsom lost… I thought they were hands down the best team in Nor Cal this year….

ThunderRam said:

I didn't see the entire game either, but plan to re-watch it on demand.

I had to take my wife to the airport tonight for a 9:30pm flight so I was catching bits and pieces here and there. While my wife drove, I watched the beginning of the Grant-DLS and Rocklin-Bishop Manogue games at 7:30. I did get to see most the 2nd half of the Folsom-Serra game once I returned home but was distracted by the other games I had streaming at the same time.

I'm crazy like that 😂

Click to expand...

You made your wife drive 😆 ? And they say chivalry is dead in 2024! 🤣

The loss tonight means that the bulldogs can avoid the Open Bowl game. Not a bad thing

THEOC89 said:

Wow!!… Didn’t see the game but Congrats to Coach Walsh and the kids from Serra!!…

The Padres just planted their flag and said we are the kings or Nor Cal and don’t anyone forget it!… 🤣💪👏

Click to expand...

I didn't see the entire game either, but plan to re-watch it on demand.

I had to take my wife to the airport tonight for a 9:30pm flight so I was catching bits and pieces here and there. While my wife drove, I watched the beginning of the Grant-DLS and Rocklin-Bishop Manogue games at 7:30. I did get to see most the 2nd half of the Folsom-Serra game once I returned home but was distracted by the other games I had streaming at the same time.

I'm crazy like that 😂

Streak One said:

Folsom misses a short field goal, but still leads Serra 21-13

Click to expand...

As soon as I saw that happen, I had a very strong feeling that would come back to haunt them -- and of course it did.

Folsom still had their opportunities but just couldn’t capitalize, whereas Serra did.

Serra ran the ball down Folsom's throat when it counted most and Folsom couldn't stop it. That last drive after the onside kick was like watching a python constrict its prey. You just knew what the end result was going to be with the victim powerless to stop the inevitable.

Even had Folsom made that short FG to hold a 24-19 lead near at the end, I'm not sure they stop Serra from scoring a TD if that's what was needed.

Last play of the game it looked like #18 Taniela Tupou really had a shot at that ball in the end zone but didn't or couldn't high point it for whatever reason. It was super close!

mrbig864 said:

Serra playing so much smarter…if Folsom loses, just look in the mirror. 2 min to go, Padres on the Bulldogs 43

Click to expand...

mrbig864 said:

Sheesh

Congrats to Serra, but watching this game, I’m not sure how Folsom loses. Just not prepared. That onside kick was embarrasing

Click to expand...

FBIQ said:

I wouldn't say Folsom is coached very well. They weren't prepared for obvious situations; onside kick, Serra running game, chip shot field goal. Seemed like the coach thought the athletes would get it done for him.

Click to expand...

I've been saying for a quite while that Paul Doherty is vastly overrated by many on this site. I'm not saying or suggesting that he's a bad coach by any means, just that he's nowhere near one of the better coaches in the area. He inherited a ready-made elite program, similar to Justin Alumbaugh at DLS and (even longer ago) Max Miller at Cordova. Not one of the three could have built it themselves.

I give Doherty a lot of credit for drastically stepping up Folsom's scheduling (and deservedly so), but in terms of being an upper-tier coach -- you see signs that he's not whenever Folsom faces a team at or near their level but with better coaching on the other sideline.

BTW, props to Serra for their gutsy 'W' tonight. I don't think they were the better team talent-wise, but they sure earned it with their clutch play.

Wow!!… Didn’t see the game but Congrats to Coach Walsh and the kids from Serra!!…

The Padres just planted their flag and said we are the kings or Nor Cal and don’t anyone forget it!… 🤣💪👏

kiddman32 said:

Good question... How did Long Beach Poly do tonight?

Click to expand...

They were handily beat again

Answer: They got whipped by Lincoln of Sandy Eggo tonight.

Good question... How did Long Beach Poly do tonight?

These posts didn’t age very well. Best Folsom team ever just lost to a down Serra team not ranked in top 50 of the state.

Niklas227 said:

Well, the score was 7-3 at the half with SRV leading SI before pulling away in the 2nd half to beat SI 28-10.
St. Ignatius QB threw 3 picks which didn't help.
Still proud that SI made SRV play the entire game and that it wasn't the blowout that it was last year.

Click to expand...

Went to this game. SI played them pretty tough. SRV has some really good DBs. All Hummel really had were about a dozen 8 yard corner routes and when SRV figured that out, a DB jumped the route and picked him off. He took a few shots over the top but the SRV safeties read those and picked those off too. Hogan didnt really get going but Marco Jones will do that to you. John Mills was solid. Odhran Kenny is going to make it to the NFL. What a luxury to have a guy that kick a 40yd FG and punt the ball 40 yards!

Watching Jones was like watching Jerry Mixon. Just dominant and made a TD grab too on a nice left corner route with DB drapped all over him. SI will be solid for WCAL play. They just played a way better team tonight.

Well - I didn't think PLB was was ready for Folsom, but sure didn't think Folsom would drop a game against Serra. The game probably ends the talk of Folsom for the SBG Open.

kiddman32 said:

After what I saw on the blue turf this past Friday, he'll REALLLLLLYYYYYYYYYY need it!

Click to expand...

So was Serra better than everyone thought, or was Folsom not as good as advertised?

THEOC89 said:

I really liked what I saw from Folsom…. I really like their Coach!…. Folsom was very diciplined on both offense and defense….

Their running game is so strong that Lyons is going to have wide open receivers all over on play action…. Folsom looks like the type of team that can put up 21 points on MD or SJB and play sound defense….

Click to expand...

Oy vey.

Streak One said:

Don't want to overreact to one game, but Lyons looks to be the best QB Folsom has had and this looks to be the most physical offensive line they have had.

Click to expand...

Welp......

Bluedog2 said:

WHAT a Surprise Vanden beating Campolindo 23-7, The Vikings lost a lot of seniors, but got a returning
QB plus the JV team did not bring enough that was thought to beef up the varisty...

Click to expand...

I was surprised by this score as well, Campo is usually very competitive for a smaller program

Streak One said:

MaxPreps has Vanden beating Campolindo 23-7

Click to expand...

WHAT a Surprise Vanden beating Campolindo 23-7, The Vikings lost a lot of seniors, but got a returning
QB plus the JV team did not bring enough that was thought to beef up the varisty...

Yeah i am quite surprised. I thought this was supposed to be Folsom's year. I bought into the hype as well. My opinion on Folsom is that they play to arrogant. 4th and something, the ball is on your 3 yard line and you don't punt. Lyons runs and gets stopped way short of the first and then Serra has the ball on the 20 and scores a couple of plays later. to go up 13-0.

I guess Serra is better than we thought, at least better than I thought. Folsom will be fine, a long season,

Norcalguy111 said:

I don’t understand how people can say DLS dodged Grant yet they were playing national Powers every season. It was a disappointment tho for DLS to not get them on the schedule when both teams were at their peak.

Click to expand...

I didn’t bring that up. But since you did, “dodged” is definitely the wrong word for anyone to use. Silly talk.

It was just a case of neither side agreeing to the other’s terms. Which certainly isn’t an unprecedented thing.

Back around 2008ish there was talk coming out of both sides. The Pacers staff claimed that DLS wanted half their gate for a game played in DPH and that they couldn’t afford that. The Spartans staff had their side of the story.

All I know is, the parties involved didn’t make it work. Which wasn’t good for anyone. The players from both sides got cheated out of opportunities against the best NorCal talent/team outside of themselves. And we fans never got to see match ups featuring one of the largest pools of future D1 FBS and NFL talent.

I’m happy to see the match up finally happen, but, make no mistake, the talent on the field for both teams today is nowhere close to where it was circa 2006-2010.

The rosters and talent back then would have been NorCal’s version of one of Alabama Crimson Tide’s all-time best teams versus one of the Miami Hurricanes all-time best teams.

Lastly, props to the Spartans for their convincing ‘W’ tonight. Pretty much what was expected.

I wouldn't say Folsom is coached very well. They weren't prepared for obvious situations; onside kick, Serra running game, chip shot field goal. Seemed like the coach thought the athletes would get it done for him.

NorCalSportsFan said:

Serra defense was very physical

Click to expand...

They always are. Walsh demands that of them. Walsh now going back to play his alma mater. Going to be a great game!

Serra defense was very physical

larry legend33 said:

Yeah I just got home. Impressive game. All week everybody sort of wrote off Serra but we are still talking about a norcal power even in a "down" year. Has Folsom ever beaten serra? I don't recall.

And the more I watch Folsom the more I say wow... Lyons... But otherwise, Its sort of meh. He's the team. Incredible talent. Stop him and you win. Easier said then done.

Click to expand...

I will say you gave Serra and their staff a punchers chance all week and said nit to sleep on them.

I think alot of people (myself included) bought into the hype after that LBP game. Watched a little bit of Lincoln raping LBP and really sets in how far Poly has fallen off and really cant count that as a big win at this point.