FINAL: Defense, QB Rudnicki Sends Folsom to State Championship in Epic CIF NorCal Division I-AA Regional Comeback

Two elite quarterbacks headline Friday night’s CIF NorCal Division I-AA regional championship when unbeaten Archbishop Riordan visits Folsom. Riordan junior Michael Mitchell Jr. has been one of California’s most productive passers with 3,471 yards and 46 touchdowns, while Folsom junior Ryder Lyons counters with 3,270 yards and 34 touchdowns through the air.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Riordan (12-0) has cleared 31 points in every game and is coming off a 33-13 win over Junipero Serra. The Crusaders lean on a deep set of weapons, including junior running back Adonyae Brown, who has rushed for 1,212 yards and 22 touchdowns. Mitchell spreads the ball to one of the state’s best receiving corps in Judge Nash (907 yards, 15 TDs), Cynai Thomas (850 yards, 17 TDs), Kyle Welch (755 yards, 7 TDs) and Perrion Williams (535 yards, 5 TDs). Defensively, Riordan brings pressure with junior DJ Sanchez (13 sacks) and senior Zachary Kleppin (12 sacks).

Folsom (12-1) enters on a 10-game win streak after a 21-14 win over Oak Ridge. Lyons has added 342 rushing yards and 14 scores to fuel one of the state’s most balanced attacks. His top targets include senior Jameson Powell (1,203 yards, 13 TDs), junior Rob Larson (1,045 yards, 16 TDs) and senior Isaiah Williams, who had a career-high 105 yards last week. The Bulldogs counter Riordan’s firepower with a defense led by senior DB Jason Hill Jr. (six interceptions) and linebackers Nick Wegner (117 tackles) and EJ Coleman (102 tackles).

The matchup could hinge on the ground game. Riordan averages 183.5 rushing yards per outing behind Brown and a physical offensive front, while Folsom averages 80.5 but leans heavily on Lyons’ dual-threat ability. Both teams have shown they can score quickly, but controlling the line of scrimmage may dictate who reaches next week’s state championship.

With two explosive offenses, dominant quarterbacks and playmakers across the field, Friday’s winner will emerge as one of California’s most complete teams heading into the CIF state finals.

Leaders

For Archbishop Riordan Crusaders

Michael Mitchell Jr., QB, jr. – 189 for 279, 3,471 yards, 46 TDs, 4 INT; 65 carries, 358 yards, 2 TDs

Adonyae Brown, RB, jr. – 158 carries, 1,212 yards, 22 TDs

Judge Nash, WR, sr. – 33 receptions, 907 yards, 15 TDs

Folsom cuts the Riordan lead to 26-20 with 6:11 left in the 2nd. – 45 receptions, 850 yards, 17 TDs

Kyle Welch, WR, sr. – 51 receptions, 755 yards, 7 TDs

Perrion Williams, WR, sr. – 29 receptions, 535 yards, 5 TDs

DJ Sanchez, DE, jr. – 46 tackles, 19 TFL, 13 sacks, 31 QB hurries

Don’t forget Folsom has plenty of talent&hellip. – 50 tackles, 19 TFL, 12 sacks, 19 QB hurries

For Folsom Bulldogs

Brody Rudnicki to Rob Larson for a 25-yard score. – 242 for 318, 3,270 yards, 34 TDs, 9 INT; 103 carries, 342 yards, 14 TDs

mdash; Mitch Stephens @MitchBookLive. – 73 carries, 454 yards, 4 TDs

Jameson Powell, WR, sr. – 72 receptions, 1,203 yards, 13 TDs

Rob Larson, WR, jr. – 74 receptions, 1,045 yards, 16 TDs

Kyle Welch, WR, sr. – 46 receptions, 609 yards, 6 TDs

ndash; 46 receptions, 609 yards, 6 TDs. – 45 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, 6 INT

Nick Wegner, LB, jr. – 117 tackles, 6.5 TFL

Judge Nash, WR, sr. – 102 tackles, 6.5 TFL

Live Scoring

1st Quarter

Folsom received the opening kickoff and began possession at its own 20.

TOUCHDOWN! Folsom quarterback Ryder Lyons found receiver Jameson Powell for 32 yards to give the Bulldogs a quick 7-0 lead with 9:11 left it he first.

BIG PLAY! A long pass from Michael Mitchell to Judge Nash set up first down for Archbishop Riordan at the Folsom 15.

TOUCHDOWN! Michael Mitchell found Cynai Thomas for 12 yards to tie the game 7-7 with 7:37 left in the first quarter.

TOUCHDOWN! Ryder Lyons connected Jameson Powell for the second time in as many drives. Powell powered his way in with some tough YAC yards, scoring from 32 yards. The PAT failed. Folsom moved back in front 13-7 with 5:26 left in the first.

TOUCHDOWN! With 3:15 left, running back Adonyae Brown scored on a 25-yard run for Archbishop Riordan. The PAT was blocked and the game remained tied 13-13.

End 1: Folsom 13, Archbishop Riordan 13

2nd Quarter

TOUCHDOWN! Big man Adonyae Brown raced 70 yards for his second touchdown of the game to put Archbishop Riordan up 20-13 with 10:58 left in the half.

PUNT! After a shanked 10-yard punt deep in its own territory, Folsom gave the ball back to Riordan at the Bulldogs' 17 with just under 9 minutes left in the half.

TOUCHDOWN! Taking advantage of the short field, Riordan scored again on an 18-yard pass from Michael Mitchell to Sione Viahola. It was Viahola's first reception of the season. The PAT was blocked. Riordan extended its lead to 26-13 with 8:19 left in the half.

TOUCHDOWN! Ryder Lyons put the Bulldogs' offense on his back and scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown with 6:11 left in the half to trim Folsom's deficit to 26-20.

TOUCHDOWN! Michael Mitchell responded with a big 44-yard shot to receiver Judge Nash for another quick strike for the Crusaders. Riordan went for two and the conversion run failed. Regardless, Riordan extended its lead to 32-20 with 4:44 left in the half.

BIG PENALTY! Folsom quarterback Ryder Lyons raced down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown, but a holding penalty at the Riordan 35 wiped out the score and instead only counted for an 11-yard gain.

Riordan got a huge stop to get the ball back at the 50 with just under 3 minutes remaining in the half.

BIG PLAY! Michael Mitchell hit Judge Nash on a 47-yard bomb (Nash made a magnificent catch) down to the Folsom 3 to set up first-and-goal with just over 2 minutes remaining in the half.

TOUCHDOWN! Adonyae Brown scored on a 3-yard run. It marked his third TD of the game. A conversion pass failed, but the Crusaders' lead swelled to 38-20 with 2:05 remaining in the half.

TOUCHDOWN! Folsom senior Isaiah Williams responded with an 80-yard kickoff return with 1:50 left in the half. Ryder Lyons scored on a conversion run to make it 38-28.

A personal foul by Folsom on the Riordan kickoff return pushed the Crusaders up to their own 42 to begin the ensuing drive.

PUNT! Folsom's defense got a big stop, but Riordan running back/punter Adonyae Brown boomed a 41-yard punt down to the Folsom 4 with 54 seconds left in the half. Folsom had no timeouts to work with.

HALFTIME: Archbishop Riordan 38, Folsom 28

3rd Quarter

Riordan took the second half kickoff and the first possession of the third quarter started at its own 8 following a holding penalty.

PUNT! Riordan went three-and-out to begin the third quarter and was forced to punt, giving the ball back to Folsom at the Crusaders' 49.

beating Riordan 42-38 behind the play of backup QB! Folsom drove the ball quickly to the Riordan 11 before Ryder Lyons, scrambling around in the pocket, got tripped up by Crusaders' senior linebacker Skylar Tiatia, a team captain, and lost the ball. Tiatia pounced on the loose ball at his own 21 to give it back to Riordan's offense. It was a huge play and thwarted a potential swing in momentum.

BIG PENALTY! Michael Mitchell hit Cynai Thomas for a long touchdown, but Thomas was flagged for offensive pass interference to wipe out the call and set up first-and-40 for the Crusaders at the Folsom 42.

A personal foul on Riordan moved them back another 15 yards to their own 48. The Crusaders were forced to punt facing fourth and forever.

PUNT! After penalties ruined Riordan's drive, Adonye Brown punted it to Folsom's 16 late in the third.

KEY INJURY! Late in the third quarter,Folsom's Ryder Lyons scrambled to his left and was attempting to find room to run. Rather than throwing the ball away, he lowered his shoulder and tried to deliver a big hit on a defensive back near the Riordan sideline, but he got crushed and immediately ran off the field holding his left arm to his side. Lyons immediately ran to the trainer's cart in clear pain. Junior quarterback Brody Rudnicki replaced him.

TOUCHDOWN! Fresh off the bench, Brody Rudnicki made a couple of huge plays for Folsom, breaking off a 50-yard run before throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rob Larson on the final play of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 38-35.

End 3: Archbishop Riordan 38, Folsom 35

4th Quarter

BIG PLAY! Michael Mitchell aired one out on third down but Jason Hill Jr. batted it away to set up fourth-and-long from midfield for Riordan.

PUNT! Facing fourth-and-15 from their own 45, the Crusaders booted the ball back to Folsom's 29.

BIG PLAYS! Facing fourth-and-5, Rudnicki completed a pass to sophomore receiver Arhian Acuna down to the Riordan 33. He followed that with another pass down to the 17 with just over 6 minutes left.

TOUCHDOWN! On a wide receiver slip screen, Rudnicki hit Jameson Powell, who raced 20 yards for the go-ahead score to give Folsom a 42-38 lead with 5:02 remaining. The touchdown was Powell's third of the game.

The Crusaders' ensuing possession began at its own 29.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! On fourth-and-2 from the Folsom 45, Michael Mitchell Jr. couldn't find an open receiver and scrambled before taking a huge shot. He came up a yard short on the play and Folsom took over on downs at its own 44 with 2:50 remaining.

HUGE PLAY! Brody Rudnicki had an outstanding performance in relief of Ryder Lyons. He scrambled twice with the game on the line, fighting across midfield to get enough yardage. A facemask on the first-down gain capped the game, allowing Folsom to run out the clock and pull out the stunning comeback victory.

Folsom's defense also deserves a ton of credit. After not having many answers for Riordan's offense in the first half, the Bulldogs buckled down in the second half and didn't allow a single point. Another key was Riordan's failures on blocked extra-point attempts and failed 2-point conversions, which helped make the difference.

FINAL: Folsom 42, Archbishop Riordan 38

Folsom (13-1) will play San Diego's Cathedral Catholic (11-2) for the CIF Division I-AA state championship on Friday, Dec. 12.

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