Great article in the bee today!
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/joe-davidson/article35801928.html
Go Bulldogs!
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/joe-davidson/article35801928.html
Go Bulldogs!
Folsom state best 36 game winning streak
- Thread starter G61
- Start date
Still the team to beat in Norcal this year IMO. (excluding DLS). Until somebody proves they can beat them on the field you have to like them. I do think that they will lose 1 game in league. Whether that is GB, DO, Rocklin, or Oak Ridge is yet to be determined. The "fill" in QB would have been a star in any other program.
This only counts as regular season games. DLS has beaten them twice in this supposedly 36 game win streak.
True, most of the wins were behind a QB who is now starting as a true frosh over at UW.....that certainly helped! Despite that fact, they are still very legit and have a great QB - love watching the blue and white do their thing. I do believe Granite Bay's D will put them to the test, along with Del Oro who is always tough on both sides, and the Oak Ridge offense will likely force them to keep up. Folsom does it right that is for sure, but wish Browning would have faced DLS one more time!
Dont mean this in a disrespectful way, but why is Folsom's schedule so soft for being a nationally ranked powerhouse team? They did play a strong Clayton Valley team, but the rest of their non-league play was weak in comparison to many of the top programs. They clearly have a strong enough team to schedule elite programs and would like to see them play a much tougher schedule, perhaps more like what Del Oro has done.
They played CVC. The league they play in (SFL) is one of the strongest in Northern CA. They have plenty of tough teams to play. Despite popular belief, they are not on the national level as of now. But, they are a definite force in CA!
They have a 36 game win streak? How is that possible with the losses vs DLS when they played in the open regional?
Joel, you make a good point! It would be nice to see Folsom play a tougher pre-season schedule. Similar to Del Oros.
Opinion (Just for kicks):
I personally think that Folsom will run through the SFL again this season. I don't think the SFL teams can defend/contain Folsom's spread offense or neutralize it with a strong running game. (I could be wrong)
I still think that the SFL league should become the "Spread Football League". If Folsom runs through league unscathed it might be time to adapt the same offense. The player personnel between schools is not that much different. The SFL also has some very good coaches. If you can't beat them join them!
The SFL isn't known for its running backs/size/speed. It's known for great team football. Many say the best league in Norcal. Hard to argue when 4 teams from the league have been to state bowl games.
Opinion (Just for kicks):
I personally think that Folsom will run through the SFL again this season. I don't think the SFL teams can defend/contain Folsom's spread offense or neutralize it with a strong running game. (I could be wrong)
I still think that the SFL league should become the "Spread Football League". If Folsom runs through league unscathed it might be time to adapt the same offense. The player personnel between schools is not that much different. The SFL also has some very good coaches. If you can't beat them join them!
The SFL isn't known for its running backs/size/speed. It's known for great team football. Many say the best league in Norcal. Hard to argue when 4 teams from the league have been to state bowl games.
I agree with much of what you have said. Despite popular belief, they have a reasonably tough schedule, to mostly include league. I also think the SFL is one of the premier leagues in Norcal...almost all the games and teams are tough. We are fortunate to live in such a nice area with great football schools.
Also, Folsom does run the ball very well still...
Agreed. We were all cheated by the fact the two teams didn't meet last year...
It would have really been a treat.
It is easy to understand why fans scratch their heads over Folsom non league scheduling. Watching Folsom it is apparent they are very well coached and have plenty of talent. That is why it is difficult to understand why the leadership would not want to challenge their kids more. It appears the Folsom leaders are more interested in winning percentage (and passing records) than the challenge. This would be 180 degrees from the Coach Taylor philosophy.
Those lamenting Folsom not playing DLS last year should direct their frustration at Folsom' s leadership and Joe Sacco who all desperately wanted to avoid the match up.
Of course, it would not have mattered as DLS would have whooped that Bulldog behind for a third time- the Spartans are a very bad match up for Folsom.
Those lamenting Folsom not playing DLS last year should direct their frustration at Folsom' s leadership and Joe Sacco who all desperately wanted to avoid the match up.
Of course, it would not have mattered as DLS would have whooped that Bulldog behind for a third time- the Spartans are a very bad match up for Folsom.
Actually, Folsom would have beaten DLS last year.
I watched the same DLS team this year against Trinity lay a complete egg. They couldn't even make simple passes or defend Trinity. Folsom and Jake Browning would have eaten them alive last year. DLS was exposed big time against Trinity on national TV, much as Folsom was against DLS a few years back. It happens to everyone at some point.
Jake Browning is starting to tear apart D1 defenses this year as a true freshman. Imagine what he would have done to DLS last year with ALL of his weapons being seniors. Just sad we never got to see it.
And...Folsom does play tough teams. They play in one of the toughest leagues in CA. Every time they beat a good team, people get on here and say, "oh that team isn't even good!" I mean....c'mon! The only thing that would satisfy all of you is if they scheduled Bishop Gormon AT Bishop Gormon LOL!
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First statement is your opinion.
This is not the same DLS team as last year, but if you're going use that argument as to why Folsom would've won last season, than it's fair game to turn around and say that last year was the same Folsom team we saw in 2013 so a matchup against DLS would've turned out no differently..
They gave away the game at Trinity. They were not "exposed big time" nor did they lay an egg like they did against DBP in 09 or STA in 11. Pretty sure they had around 100 more yards total than Trinity. That game came down to a busted trick play and shoddy tackling.
Browning has torn apart Sac St. and Utah St., hardly a great measuring stick. Good for a true freshman, but don't make it more than it is at this point. We saw what happened at Boise St. We will find out what more in the next 6 weeks.
troll post. However, I'll bite.
Folsom requested to play DLS in the preseason last year and was declined. They tried to schedule up (Cathedral and Clovis) last year but it didn't work out. Folsom's leadership didn't lobby for it, though I wouldn't be surprised if the section wanted to give the publics (with less resources than the privates) a chance to play for a state trophy. Hence the further changes this year.
I think that Folsom would have beat DLS last year -- would have been a great game. However, they haven't beat them yet, and are 0-2 against. DLS remains the top dog.
Actually, they were exposed big time against Trinity. It was on National TV. No where to hide that...Tough to hide a QB that cannot throw a 5 yard pass.
Browning is looking great. He actually looked great in the second half against Boise State. He is a true freshman, remember? The FIRST EVER to start at UW as a true freshman. No matter what team he picks apart, they are still D1 teams.
Yes, Folsom would have beat DLS last year. And it bothers many of you...
Agreed. I firmly believe Folsom would have beaten DLS last year.
This thought was further confirmed when I saw that same team get exposed against Trinity on national TV. Trinity would have lost by 3 TD's to last years Folsom team.
The truth is in the tape...
GB and DO have been running through the SFL for a lot longer than Folsom (1 year) and have done so with run oriented offenses. I think your drastically overreacting to their 1 year of dominance with arguably their best team ever whilst the other SFL teams were a bit down compared to most seasons. Let's see if Folsom wins the next 2-3 league titles before going down that road. Besides, it's not like all the SFL teams went to the "Fly" offense simply because GB had so much success with it the past 18 years. DO has won their fair share of titles with a much more conventional approach and w/o the need to keep up with the joneses.
You haven't seen Bellarmine, De La, Grant Union or Elk Grove go to spread offenses and they're all still doing quite well. Same is true of the smaller programs such as Oakdale, Inderkum and Central Catholic.
I'm more interested to see what happens with Folsom in the SFL over the long haul. With the exception of this past season, they haven't dealt all that well with physical smash mouth teams. Case in point was their playoff loss to Del Oro in 2009 after the Golden Eagles spotted them a 35-7 halftime lead. They wore down on both sides of the ball the 2nd half.
The teams that have beaten the Bulldogs the past 6-7 seasons have all been run-oriented teams that played with at least a modicum of physicality on both sides of the ball. Pleasant Grove, Napa, Monterey Trail, Del Oro, Grant Union, Vacaville and DLS.
I'm not sure Folsom has even lost to a true spread team during Richardson's tenure. Casa Roble came within 1 play in 2011, but that's about it. Perhaps Deer Valley that same year.
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G61 maintains that Folsom would have beat DLS last year. I sort of look at it this way:
Both Folsom and DLS brought back a good amount of players for the 2014 season. These players came back having played each other in the last game of 2013. That was a game where, if they had left in their first string the entire game. would probably have been won by DLS by say 80-28, or and 8-9 td difference. Now Folsom was better in 2014, but they did not improve enough to overcome a 8-9 td difference. i would have been more concerned if Folsom had played DLS the first game of the 2014 season, when DLS has yet to get going (see this year vs Euless Trinity). By the end of 2014 DLS was just clicking on all cylinders and would have won say 56-32 over Folsom.
Both Folsom and DLS brought back a good amount of players for the 2014 season. These players came back having played each other in the last game of 2013. That was a game where, if they had left in their first string the entire game. would probably have been won by DLS by say 80-28, or and 8-9 td difference. Now Folsom was better in 2014, but they did not improve enough to overcome a 8-9 td difference. i would have been more concerned if Folsom had played DLS the first game of the 2014 season, when DLS has yet to get going (see this year vs Euless Trinity). By the end of 2014 DLS was just clicking on all cylinders and would have won say 56-32 over Folsom.
Wrong.
Folsom would have beat DLS last year 35-21.
That Trinity showed me a lot. When you have a QB who cannot throw the ball 5 yards and you cannot play from behind, you will get beat by better teams like Trinity and Folsom.
They were exposed on national TV and lost to a mid tier Texas team. It is what it is. It just further proves my point that Folsom was a better team last year than DLS
Thunder:
You make great points. This isn't the same SFL. This is a completely different league. The additions of Folsom and Oak Ridge makes this league the best in NorCal.
Folsom's defense has drastically improved over the years. Realistically I think that it is also a mistake to call DO and Granite Bay Smashmouth teams. They don't run the ball down the throats of the elite teams. Del Oro has taken too many lumps to be called Smashmouth. They've been slapped up and down the west coast. Kudos to them for scheduling up. But there is no consolation for losing the way they do in the preseason.
Grant runs into the same problem year after year. They have the best athletes in the state but when a good team stacks the box on them, the Pacers struggle to put points on the board. Is it good defense or poor offense? Id say poor offense...Their offensive scheme is predictable.
If you watch them on film or live, you see that the opposing teams defensive backs play 10 yards off of the receivers. They don't exploit the vanilla coverage.
Del Oro and Granite Bay dont have 2k yard running backs. Grant typically has one every other year. The 2009 Grant Pacer team is a prime example. They should have beaten Rocklin by 5 scores. The disparity in talent was too immense. The 2009 Pacers had 12 division 1 collegiate athletes (7 Pac 12 and 4 others) on the roster and they struggled greatly against Rocklin. With a different offensive scheme, the Pacers exploit Rocklins vulnerable secondary. Rocklin didn't have one guy that could cover Grants speedy receivers.
Smashmouth football against a good team that stacks the box will not work in 2015. This is part of the reason why Nevada Union struggles. That Smashmouth wing T is not going to work in D1/D2. The coaching in Sacramento has gotten better.
If you watched the Grant/St. Mary's game last year, it was so obvious that St. Mary's was committed to shutting down the run. Grant beat St. Mary's in the air. They didnt do much on the ground. In actuality, St. Mary's beat themselves.
I may be wrong. Maybe I'm giving Folsom too much credit. But I just don't see GB and DO beating Folsom this year.
You make great points. This isn't the same SFL. This is a completely different league. The additions of Folsom and Oak Ridge makes this league the best in NorCal.
Folsom's defense has drastically improved over the years. Realistically I think that it is also a mistake to call DO and Granite Bay Smashmouth teams. They don't run the ball down the throats of the elite teams. Del Oro has taken too many lumps to be called Smashmouth. They've been slapped up and down the west coast. Kudos to them for scheduling up. But there is no consolation for losing the way they do in the preseason.
Grant runs into the same problem year after year. They have the best athletes in the state but when a good team stacks the box on them, the Pacers struggle to put points on the board. Is it good defense or poor offense? Id say poor offense...Their offensive scheme is predictable.
If you watch them on film or live, you see that the opposing teams defensive backs play 10 yards off of the receivers. They don't exploit the vanilla coverage.
Del Oro and Granite Bay dont have 2k yard running backs. Grant typically has one every other year. The 2009 Grant Pacer team is a prime example. They should have beaten Rocklin by 5 scores. The disparity in talent was too immense. The 2009 Pacers had 12 division 1 collegiate athletes (7 Pac 12 and 4 others) on the roster and they struggled greatly against Rocklin. With a different offensive scheme, the Pacers exploit Rocklins vulnerable secondary. Rocklin didn't have one guy that could cover Grants speedy receivers.
Smashmouth football against a good team that stacks the box will not work in 2015. This is part of the reason why Nevada Union struggles. That Smashmouth wing T is not going to work in D1/D2. The coaching in Sacramento has gotten better.
If you watched the Grant/St. Mary's game last year, it was so obvious that St. Mary's was committed to shutting down the run. Grant beat St. Mary's in the air. They didnt do much on the ground. In actuality, St. Mary's beat themselves.
I may be wrong. Maybe I'm giving Folsom too much credit. But I just don't see GB and DO beating Folsom this year.
That's it? One attempt to schedule DLS ( very late in the planning process which shows that it was not a serious attempt) over all of these seasons and Folsom is to be excused for their weak non league scheduling. Cathedral Catholic? Clovis? Those were the " attempts" to upgrade their schedule. Weak. What are the excuses for all of the other poor schedules.
Folsom's leadership DID lobby for no Open regional game. Multiple times. They didn't hide this fact.
Folsom beating DLS in 2014 is fantasy, Unless you 100% ignore the two previous years. In which case I can use that logic and proclaim Livermore would have beat Folsom last year. Same credibility.
Can you imagine the craziness on this forum if Folsom were to beat DLS last year!?
You might have had a Jim Jones type event...
I find it funny how people say Folsom had an "easy" schedule, considering most people on here freely admit that they play in one of the toughest, premier leagues in California. Some people really need some perspective...They beat an undefeated Oceanside team last year in the state title game by over 50 points.
Just because someone is THAT good does not discount the other teams they play.
My comment was in reference to the SFL. Folsom has been in the league 3 seasons in their history and for only 1 season since their return, no? Hence they've dominated the SFL once. Granite Bay and DO have been dominating the league for years, all while it was a top 3 league in all of NorCal.
It was already the #2 or #3 league in NorCal before those additions. Really only the WCAL was clearly better. Some will still argue for the WCAL, but it's a much tougher sell now. Regardless, it's not drastically different.
To say that Folsom's defense has drastically improved over the years is quite a reach. They had a great defense last season. But their defense wasn't anymore than average in the couple season's previous as they just outscored teams. They still struggled with physical rush oriented teams. I already pointed out the only teams they lost to, which all had the common trait. They struggled to beat Jesuit in the playoffs due to the same reason.
It's not at all a mistake to refer to DO and GB as I did when you look at the larger picture. I'm talking historically over the past 10-15 years. There have a been a few years here and there when Casey Taylor and Ernie Cooper became more pass oriented in an effort to take advantage of their personnel, as DO has done the past 2 seasons, but at heart they have played physical smashmouth football on both sides of the ball. Don't forget about their physical defenses, which have been staples of what they have accomplished.
Offensively, think Bryce Pratt, Dylan Kainrath, Cameron Fraser, Mike Makela, and the tandem of Nick O'Sullivan and Brandon Monroe for the Golden Eagles. For Granite Bay, think Arik Byrd, John Cooley, and Ronnie Thomas.
As for your comments regarding DO, most of their true elite, smashmouth teams haven't played outside of the area. The 2011 team is the only one that really did. The teams they've had the past few years, while still good, are not representative of what I'm talking about and, yes, those teams have taken their lumps. For example, the 2005 and 2009 teams would have fared quite well against the schedules they've been playing lately.
What you are suggesting just isn't at all true. If it was, then how have the Pacers managed to win 6 section titles and a State title since 1999? How did they manage benchmark out-of-state wins against State Champs Bellevue and Alta? Obviously they don't run into the problem you're seeing year after year. Proof is in the pudding, my friend. Also, De La Salle's offensive scheme is fairly predicable, don't ya think? How do they do with it?
It's not the scheme that you run that is important, it's how you execute it with fundamentals, speed, talent, and most of all, precision. I recall the Washington Redskins running the "counter trey" relentlessly despite everyone knowing what was coming. Did matter too much.
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Well stated. Scheme is over rated in HS. It's Blocking and tackling.
I would put the EBAL of 2008, 2009 and 2010 in the best league discussion. Mark Tennis in 2009 stated that the EBAL was every bit as good as the Trinity that year.
You're drastically underestimating that Rocklin team, which had quite a few D1 FBS players themselves, especially at the most important position on the field (Laughrea, Cummings, Huff, Moore). That same Rocklin team minus their star QB came within 1 play of beating the PAC-5 champ and Servite's best team in years. They were one of the better teams the SJS has produced the past 10 years.
In fact, I've said it many times that the 2009 season in D2 was the deepest and best I recall seeing. IMO, Rocklin, Grant Union, Del Oro, St. Mary's, and Folsom ALL could have went to State and won that year -- and they were all in the same playoff bracket. Folsom won State the very next season with essentially the same team and lost big to essentially the same Pacers team when it was completely healthy. Del Oro upset one of St. Mary's best teams ever.
Sure, I have no problem admitting that Grant should have beaten Rocklin in that game. When you have to reply upon 4 stops inside the 2 yard line and a missed 21-yd FG to win, you got lucky. But Rocklin was in the position they were against a great team because they had a special team themselves. Rocklin and possibly St. Mary's were the only teams that could have posed problems for the Pacers defense that season, as they could run or throw the ball with equal effectiveness. Rocklin had a 2K rusher with over 40 TD's and an elite QB/WR combo. Not many teams have that. Despite that, the Pacers were 1 yard or a chip shot FG away from winning. They make that play and they beat Del Oro and Servite the next 2 games.
NU struggles because Dave Humphers retired and they aren't at all the same program they once were. Saying that their wing-t isn't going to work in D1/D2 has been proven wrong for over 25 years. They've been a D1 team the entire time and from 1989 through 2009 they went 202-51-2 with 7 section title appearances and 4 wins. The most recent was in 2009 when they nearly earned a State Bowl bid. They had a decent year in 2011, but have fallen on hard times since. It had zero to do with their offensive system. Bellevue-Washington has been running a version of the wing-t forever and has always been a Nationally relevant program with numerous benchmark wins over elite competition, namely De La Salle.
I respect your opinion, but what you're saying just doesn't hold true.
Yeah, I was thinking of the EBAL when I said #2 or #3. I think many would agree that the WCAL has primarily been the best league for much of the past to 10 - 15 years. The SFL and EBAL had seasons were they were better and should be in the top 3. The now defunct DRL would also be in the mix over a 3-5 year period, but didn't have the longevity and consistency as those other leagues.
