Folsom Showdown: Area Champions Face Off in Exciting Season Opener

High school football rarely presents “game of the year” encounters early in the season, yet the potential for such a title emerges when two of the Sacramento area's most formidable teams collide on Saturday, August 23, in Del Paso Heights. At 7 p.m., the Grant Pacers will face off against the Folsom Bulldogs in a matchup that is significant enough to earn a spot on ESPN. Grant has claimed three successive Sac-Joaquin Section titles — two in Division 3 and one in Division 2 — along with two state titles in the previous three seasons, including the Division 3-AA title in 2022 and a Division 2-AA championship in 2024. Historically, the Pacers boast nine section championships and three state titles since 1990. On the other hand, Folsom has secured 10 section titles since 2004, including four consecutive in Division 1, along with a state championship in 2023. Both teams are brimming with collegiate talent, featuring Grant’s receivers Koby Shabazz and Zo Edwards, alongside lineman Roger Vanderhoef. Folsom matches with star quarterback Ryder Lyons, receiver Jayden Padgett, and lineman Vlad Dyakonov. Familiar foes, this marks their seventh encounter; Grant dominated Folsom in their inaugural meeting in the 2010 preseason, also shown...