More Brody Ball? Folsom Bulldogs bound for state finals after backup QB’s heroics
He didn’t have time to warm up, but there’s an old motto for quarterbacks: Be ready.
The sudden, seismic shift in a clash of high school powerhouse programs last Friday night at Prairie City Stadium happened after a crushing hit. With the Folsom Bulldogs’ season on the brink, Ryder Lyons was knocked out of the contest by a clean, crushing hit, resulting in a shoulder injury, and it came hours after the 5-star senior quarterback was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year.
The backup came in. That was Brody Rudnicki. He did his thing in a furious finish that had to be seen to be believed. On his first play in front of an overflow crowd, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior took off running. Rudnicki knifed through the heavy cold and a defense heavy on national recruit stoppers for a 50-yard sprint, and then the Bulldogs were off and running.
Rudnicki gave what NFHS broadcaster Matthew Bessette described as a “Rudnicki awakening” to the opponent as he powered Folsom past Riordan of San Francisco, 42-38, in the CIF Northern California Division 1-AA Bowl contest. That extends Folsom’s campaign to the final weekend of the season, a trip to Orange County to play Cathedral Catholic of San Diego for CIF State honors on Friday night at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.
Lyons will be there, but he may not play. He may not even be in uniform if his shoulder is still tender to the touch, and someone may have to hide his helmet if he is not cleared to go. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound BYU-bound Lyons wanted to return to action against Riordan. But he was not able to pass a series of left-arm mobility tests, and that pained a relentless competitor all the more.
“Have to be ready, always,” Rudnicki said after Friday’s win.
Rudnicki said of his first play that he went from cold to thawed out and fired up in quick order, adding the 50-yard bust, “got my juices going. That definitely warmed me up.”
Lyons sparkled against Riordan in the same manner in which he has starred over three varsity seasons for Folsom. He completed 25 of 28 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed for a score. When Lyons hopped up the blue turf and jogged from the Riordan sideline to his own, his left arm dangling, Folsom trailed 38-28 with just a little more than a quarter to play.
Folsom never missed a beat. Rudnicki was 8-of-9 passing for 96 yards, firing touchdown passes of 21 yards to Rob Larson and 20 yards to Jameson Powell. The last scoring strike came with 5:02 left and put Folsom up 42-38. The defense took over from there in shutting out the Crusaders in the second half.
It was fitting that Rudnicki ran out the clock and took a knee in victory formation in as wild and dramatic a playoff finish as the Bulldogs have experienced in the storied history of the program. Folsom now expects to move to 6-1 in CIF State finals since 2010. And to a man in Bulldogs blue, players and coaches, no one is surprised at the Brody Impact.
Folsom coach Paul Doherty said on Friday night that Rudnicki “practices every day like he’s the starter. He splits reps down the middle every day 50-50 with Ryder. He has a lot of confidence. He’s got a lot of confidence in where he wants to be.”
On Tuesday, the coach added, “Brody is incredible, and his teammates have all known it since he got here. Really happy for him, on a personal level to get some gratification for all the work he’s put in all year. A major college talent, his calm and cool disposition both in the pocket and in the moment were on full display Friday. The Bulldogs will be just fine with him behind center though 2026. Cannon of an arm and exceptionally accurate. He has a unique trust, or maybe indifference, to who he’s throwing the ball to.
“He simply runs the offense to perfection and delivers the ball wherever the defense dictates or allows.”
In a text message, the coach added of Rudnicki, “He’s a BOSS, and we’re claiming #BrodyBall.”
Rudnicki played his freshman season at Oak Ridge in El Dorado Hills, a rival of Folsom, before his transfer. He showed what he could do this season in starting one game in place of Lyons and limited other action for the 13-1 Bulldogs. He came into Friday’s game having completed 76% of his passes for 760 yards and nine touchdowns. Rudnicki now has 11 touchdowns and a victory to cherish forever.
Rudnicki sparkled in a full-contact, game-like scrimmage on the eve of the season. He took apart the St. Mary’s of Stockton defense, a unit that helped the Rams reach a CIF State final this weekend. In that scrimmage, Rudnicki chatted up strategy and mechanics with Lyons and Doherty, and an observer ribbed Lyons: “Who’s to say you have the starting job locked up, right?”
Lyons responded with excitement, saying, “Brody’s a great player! We’d be great with him!”
College coaches like to say that “game film does not lie.” The film shows that Rudnicki has size, instincts, a strong arm, fast feet and skills. That has made Rudnicki a national recruit. He holds nine Division I college scholarship offers, including from Arizona State, Cal and BYU, where Lyons is headed.
“I’ve always dreamed of my time,” Rudnicki said. “I never wanted my time to come because (Lyons) got hurt. People think Ryder and me are competing. We do compete, but it’s in a friendly, competitive healthy way. We’re really good friends and spend a lot of time together outside of football.”
Said Powell, the Oregon State-bound receiver, “We knew Brody would do fine. He’s a great quarterback, too.”
The Folsom student section endorsed Rudnicki as a group that celebrates its football heroes. When he entered the game, the backdrop was a chorus of “Brody! Brody! Brody!” That sound continued for the remainder of the game, reverberating across Prairie City Stadium. It may now carry on in Southern California.