Oak Ridge handles rain and Turlock in D-I semis, eagerly awaiting another shot at Folsom

The Oak Ridge Trojans were relentless in the rain on Friday night in El Dorado Hills, delivering a dominant 23-0 effort over the Turlock Bulldogs to secure their place in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game for the third consecutive year.

The Trojans will face a familiar rival in Folsom, the team that beat them in the last two section finals in tight games.

Oak Ridge quarterback Joaquin Graves-Mercado led the way for the Trojans, who controlled every facet of the game despite the wet and windy conditions. The Oak Ridge defense suffocated Turlock’s prolific offense, allowing the best team in the 209 area code to cross midfield just once.

“Our guys shut them out, and that’s what I’m most proud of,” Oak Ridge coach Casey Taylor said. “We gave them no opportunity to respond to us. This game could have gone either way with the elements, but our defense wasn’t going to let up.”

Taylor credited several of his two-way players for anchoring the defensive effort, including seniors Kaleb Edwards and Ryan Hickey, as well as juniors Jevon Joseph and Jasen Womack. The group set the tone early and never allowed Turlock to find any rhythm.

The Trojans struck first on their opening drive, with Womack scoring on a rushing play to give Oak Ridge a 7-0 lead. That opening touchdown was critical, Taylor said, especially with the weather making every possession a challenge.

“The elements were always going to make this game tough,” Taylor said. “But once we scored on that opening drive, the momentum was all ours. Having the wind at our backs early was a huge advantage, and we capitalized.”

From there, the Trojans piled on points in every phase of the game. They added a safety and a 23-yard touchdown pass from Graves-Mercado to sophomore Isaac Pierce. The slippery conditions made execution difficult at times, but the Trojans’ defense made sure the Bulldogs were stuck in idle.

All eyes were on Edwards, the 6-foot-6 Alabama commit tight end known for his playing ability and for being equally as humble. The wet conditions initially seemed to hinder him Friday as he dropped a 45-yard pass from Graves-Mercado early in the game. In a quarterfinal win over Monterey Trail last week, Edwards dropped two passes, mainly because his glasses fogged up.

“Going into halftime, I was pretty frustrated,” Edwards admitted. “It felt like it was going to be another week of struggles.”

But Edwards found redemption late in the second half, catching a touchdown pass to help seal the win.

“I owe a lot to my QB for throwing great passes despite the rain,” Edwards said. “That touchdown gave me the confidence I needed heading into Folsom.”

Graves-Mercado expressed confidence in Edwards’ ability to rise to the occasion in the championship game.

“After his second-half performance, I have full confidence in Kaleb,” the quarterback said. “Mistakes happen, but I know he’ll turn it up when it counts. I think he’s going to have a record game against Folsom.”

The Trojans’ defense was equally confident heading into their rematch against Folsom, which defeated Oak Ridge 35-7 in October in a Sierra Foothill League contest. That game, Taylor said, was closer than the score indicated.

“We played three great quarters against them,” Taylor said, reflecting on the earlier loss. “If we’re going to have a chance, we need to put up a defensive performance like we did tonight.”

From 0-3 to a hot streak

Oak Ridge’s season has been far from conventional. After starting the season 0-3 against three out-of-section powerhouse programs, the Trojans battled back to secure a playoff spot and have now strung together a six-game winning streak, including a 17-6 effort over Rocklin to cap the SFL season. Rocklin is the top seed in Division II and seeks a section repeat on Friday night when it takes on Grant.

“This isn’t your typical season,” Taylor said. “No one expected us to turn things around, but here we are. In a final, anything can happen.”

Graves-Mercado has been key to the Trojans’ resurgence since returning from injury three weeks ago. The quarterback missed several games but has been a steadying presence in the playoffs. On Friday, he credited his young offensive line for their growth and resilience in tough conditions.

“They’ve been incredible,” Graves-Mercado said, pointing to sophomores Max Gredvig, Troy Fleming and Mason Hinaman, junior Brody Cadden and senior Jack Spero. “They’ve had to step up, and they’ve done an amazing job.”

Looking ahead to Folsom, Graves-Mercado knows the Trojans face a daunting challenge.

“I need to be ready to scramble,” he said. “Their defensive line is fast and will find ways to break through. I just have to stay on my toes and make plays.”

For Taylor, the week of preparation will be crucial. He emphasized the importance of cleaning up mistakes, especially with Folsom’s explosive offense looming.

“The weather played a big part in some of our missed opportunities tonight, no doubt,” Taylor said. “But against Folsom, we can’t afford to leave points on the board. We’ve got a week to fix those issues, and we will.”

The Trojans’ journey has been defined by resilience, and they’ll need every ounce of it against Folsom. The three-time defending champions will be heavy favorites, but Oak Ridge isn’t shying away from the challenge.

“I fully believe in this team,” Graves-Mercado said. “We’ve been through so much, and we’re peaking at the right time. If we play our game, we can make history.”

This story was originally published November 22, 2024 at 11:00 PM.