Senior quarterback Brody Rudnicki helped guide Folsom to a 35-21 win over visiting Mission Viejo on Friday with 5 total touchdowns.
FOLSOM, Calif. — Folsom went into Friday’s home matchup with Mission Viejo seeking to avenge a 53-13 loss last season. It went down as the only loss of the year for the Bulldogs. The Diablos made the 460-mile trip from Orange County seeking to building on a 2-0 start to the 2026 season.
Folsom quarterback Brody Rudnicki had other plans. The senior, who is taking over the full-time starting QB job for the first time this year, totaled 5 touchdowns en route to a 35-21 victory.
It didn’t take long for Rudnicki to get the Bulldogs out in front. He guided a 76-yard drive to open the game that was capped with a 20-yard touchdown to receiver Jaden Angel to put Folsom in front early. The Bulldogs would never trail despite a late push from the Diablos.
Mission Viejo cut the lead to 28-21 in the fourth quarter, but Rudnicki again came up big with his fifth touchdown of the night to seal the victory.
Rudnicki Shines For Folsom in Upset Win Over Mission Viejo
The Folsom defense certainly made several impactful plays on the night, but Rudnicki was the star of the show. The senior, who is committed to play at Cal, was simply too much for a strong Mission Viejo defense to handle. He was impressive through the air with a pair of touchdown passes, but his work on the ground stood out all night.
In all, Rudnicki accounted for three rushing touchdowns as he led the Folsom offense. His ability to keep drives alive with his feet was counted on many times throughout the game. It was key in helping Folsom keep its foot on the gas against a top Southern California opponent.
“I feel like our coaches did a great job moving the ball,” Rudnicki said. “Quarterback run, finding checkdowns. It moved through our offensive line, they carried the whole thing all the way down the field.”
The Bulldogs, behind head coach Paul Doherty, were aggressive in their play calling in the win. That began early with a decision to go for it on fourth-and-7. The gamble paid off as Rudnicki was able to move the chains with a pass play leading to the initial touchdown.
Bulldogs Avenge 2025 Loss
The matchup between Folsom and Mission Viejo was one two marquee NorCal-SoCal battles up north on Friday. St. John Bosco defeated Pittsburg in the other contest. The Bulldogs certainly entered Friday’s game with revenge on their minds. The 39-point loss last September went down as the only blemish in an otherwise dominant season for Folsom.
The Bulldogs ended the year with a 14-1 record and a state championship win over Cathedral Catholic in Division 1-AA. Folsom again has state title aspirations, and the game with Mission Viejo was a big stepping stone for the bigger goal.
“We were definitely motivated because of what happened last year,” Rudnicki said. “We were just more excited and hungry to bounce back from last week. Felt like we left some things on the table. It was a good performance.”
Folsom Defense Makes Statement Against Mission Viejo
Rudnicki’s performance is drawing plenty of attention, but the work of the Folsom defense mattered Friday night. Mission Viejo mounted a comeback attempt in the second half by scoring back-to-back touchdowns. That made it a 28-21 game with 10 minutes to play.
Following Rudnicki’s final touchdown of the game, senior safety CJ Wallace IV came up with an interception allowing the Bulldogs to take more time off the clock. Linebacker EJ Coleman stepped up big on the final drive for Folsom. The senior, who is committed to Washington State, was disruptive and came up with a sack on the final play.
Early in the second half Mission Viejo was able to get the ball inside the 5-yard line. The Folsom defense came up with a stop on fourth down to end the scoring chance for the visiting Diablos. The play was indicative of the type of night the Folsom defense put together.
Mission Viejo Will Look To Bounce Back
It wasn’t all bad for Mission Viejo on Friday. The Diablos looked built momentum in the second half and looked bound to even the score. They were never able to get over the hump, but there is still plenty of promise for Chad Johnson‘s squad. Sophomore quarterback Brett Burnor was under duress for a lot of the night. Mission Viejo has a strong offensive line, but the Bulldogs defensive front was an issue.
Junior receiver Jeremy Bonhomme and sophomore running back Wyatt Boardman provided the scoring in the second half. Senior running back Carson Vandermade was impressive throughout the game and paced the Mission Viejo offense in the loss to Folsom.
The Diablos will host Lincoln of San Diego next week. That will be followed by a home matchup against another Northern California team as Pittsburg makes the trip south.