Ryder Lyons leads Folsom over St. Bonaventure with game-winning drive to claim CIF State title

Lyons led the Folsom offense down the field in the final minutes to score the game-winning TD

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA - Folsom senior lineman Lucas Hardeman remembers.

“2021 was my motivation,” he said.

That’s the last time Folsom was in a CIF State final. The Bulldogs lost to Cathedral Catholic of San Diego in the Division 1AA final.

In 2022, the Bulldogs fell one victory short of the CIF State final, losing in the regional final to De La Salle. 

Fast forward to 2023, Hardeman was beaming with joy from the championship podium on the same field Folsom lost in 2021 - but this time - he was a champion after beating St. Bonaventure 20-14 in the Division 1A final Saturday night.

“I’m feeling amazing, I’m having the best time of my life,” he boomed into the mic.

The victory gave Folsom its fifth CIF State title in program history, and doing so in six appearances. The mark puts Folsom second all-time in state championships behind De La Salle’s seven.

Photo: Joe Bergman

Hardeman helped Folsom force St. Bonaventure to punt with 2:06 remaining, trailing 14-13. It put the ball in the hands of sophomore quarterback Ryder Lyons, who marched the Bulldogs offense 44 yards to deliver the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown when he connected with Jameson Powell with 20 seconds left.

“I have all the confidence in our team. I’m immensely proud of this team,” Lyons said.

Lyons’ passing numbers didn’t jump off the page, but his lone touchdown pass is all that mattered, as he passed for 137 yards on 13 of 21 passing. However, he did run for 97 yards on 22 rushes and a touchdown.

“I’m just so blessed. We are blessed to be at Folsom,” Lyons added.

Folsom beats St. Bonaventure in CIF State 1A final: Live updates, scoring recap

St. Bonaventure used a drive that lasted 7 minutes, 22 seconds in the fourth quarter. The 16-play drive ended in a Koen Glover touchdown run to give the Seraphs a 14-7 lead with 5:39 to play.

Folsom’s Abram Woodson scored a 7-yard run with 2:41 to play before a failed two-point conversion made it 14-13 in favor of the Seraphs.

St. Bonaventure’s Koen Glover ran for 76 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Anthony Wolter passed for 190 yards and a touchdown on 15 of 24 passing. DJ Doss hauled in the lone scoring pass in the third quarter on a one-handed catch.

FULL BOX SCORE

Box score / CIF State