FOLSOM, Calif. — The Folsom High School football team will play Saturday in the 2023 California Interscholastic Federation state championship for Division 1-A.
The Bulldogs play at 3:30 p.m. against St. Bonaventure High School, a Ventura private school, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, a city roughly 25 minutes southeast of Irvine.
Here’s where in Folsom you can watch the game:
FLB Sports Bar
Address: 511 E Bidwell St., Folsom, CA 95630
Saturday hours: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Powerhouse Pub
Address: 614 Sutter St. #D, Folsom, CA 95630
Saturday hours: 12 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. (The game will be showing on the outdoor patio.)
The Iron Bulldog
Address: 303 Iron Point Road, Folsom, CA 95630
Saturday hours: 12 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (The restaurant will close after the game for a private event.)
A private, student-only watch party will be held at Folsom High School.
Folsom v. St. Bonaventure will also be streamed live online via the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Network.
LIVE SCORE: (Click here if you are having trouble viewing the scoreboard.)
Folsom won state tiles in 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2010. The Bulldogs lost to San Diego's Cathedral Catholic High School in the Division 1-AA title game in 2021.
Folsom is 4-1 in state tile games. St. Bonaventure is 2-1 in title games.
(Did we miss a spot? Email Alex Muegge at amuegge@abc10.com to be added to the list.)
FOLSOM PREVIEW
The team is one win away from their first state title since 2018. The Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders heading into Saturday's matchup, fresh off a victory over Pittsburgh High School.
Wide receiver Brian Ray III is wearing his Junior Bulldogs jersey to get ready for the game.
"I've really been dreaming about this moment ... practicing, preparing for this week my whole entire football career," said Ray.
Teamwork has been key to getting this far.
"I love being part of this team," said quarterback Ryder Lyons. "I feel like we've come together as weeks went on, as more of a team. Our #1 rule as a program is be a team."
Folsom's journey to get to the big game hasn't been easy. They intentionally made it tough by putting together a difficult schedule.
"We're trying to get to the highest level of football in the state of California, the country for that matter," said coach Paul Doherty. "We're trying to get to that Open Division. The two teams that are ahead of us are Serra and De La Salle. We've played those guys in an effort to beat those guys and we came up short."
The Bulldogs are loaded with talent, including Lyons, who was offered a full ride to the University of Southern California. The sophomore is quick to turn the attention to his teammates.
"They make my job really easy," said Lyons. "Our offensive line has been lights out all year. Our defense has been playing lights out. Our skill positions are amazing."
