Bee’s Best prep football: Top-ranked Folsom has talent, depth and championship goals
The Sacramento Bee previewed the top teams in the Sacramento region, from No. 25 ranked Pioneer right up to today’s preview of top-ranked Folsom. As games kick off tonight, here’s our final look.
NO. 1 FOLSOM
City: Folsom
School opened: 1922
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: I
Enrollment: 2,850
2021 record: 10-4
Coach: Paul Doherty
Outlook: It may be hard to fathom today, but the Folsom Bulldogs used to be the hunters in football. There was a stretch in the 2000s where they chased the top programs and worked tirelessly to close the competitive gap, sometimes getting drilled into the turf for their efforts.
That’s ancient history now as the Bulldogs have excelled at a regional record clip since 2010, winning 152 games and losing 16 and stuffing the trophy case with Sac-Joaquin Section and CIF State championships. Folsom has been Bee preseason ranked No. 1 every season since 2012.
So that big blue target that rests on their chests, backs and glistening helmets? It’s part of the program now, and the players don’t back off of it a bit.
“Our kids love it, the expectations, the target, but it’s stressful as hell for a coach,” Folsom coach Paul Doherty said with a laugh. “The kids want to play the toughest games. That’s why they come to Folsom. The target is always there and it’s incredibly challenging.”
Folsom graduated a ton of starters from a team that made history in becoming the first Sac-Joaquin Section program to defeat national powerhouse De La Salle, doing so in the Northern California I-AA finals to advance to their fifth CIF State championship. Though the Bulldogs lost to Cathedral Catholic of San Diego in the final game, it was a season to rejoice, and a host of players are back for another run.
The early schedule is daunting, starting with Friday’s opener against No. 3 Monterey Trail, which stunned Folsom in the 2019 Division I playoffs. There are games against preseason NorCal No. 1 Serra of San Mateo, North Coast Section power Pittsburg and a trip to De La Salle.
At Folsom, it starts on the offensive line, where the motto is to pass protect so the quarterback can take defenses apart. Now it’s Austin Mack’s turn as the 6-foot-6, 215-pound national recruit junior steps in for graduated Bee Player of the Year Tyler Tremain.
“He’s improved light years,” Doherty said. “It takes time. What we do with quarterbacks here is unique. We put everything on the plate, and it’s sophisticated, but it’s not complex. We’re not brainiacs here.”
Actually, Folsom has plenty of brain power. The team’s top two players are superb students. Receiver Rico Flores is headed to Notre Dame on scholarship and tight end Walker Lyons will play at Stanford. Both have improved since last season, Doherty said.
Onterrio Smith Jr. is a rising-fast recruit at receiver and running backs Donovan Maxey-Parler and Abram Woodson will add to the offense. The offensive line will feature three starting sophomores, each of whom fared well against No. 4 Elk Grove in a scrimmage on Friday, Doherty said. They are: Theo Greule, Luke Sorenson and Nela Tupou. Other offensive linemen include Lucas Hardeman and Mason Starkey.
The defense returns defensive backs D.J. Brown, Greco Carrillo and Slade Wilson. Defensive linemen expecting big seasons are Elijah Gulewich and Diallo Washington.
“Our defense is incredible,” Doherty said. “It’s maybe our best since 2014 or 2018 (teams that won CIF State titles). We’re going to lean on them a ton.”