(I know it’s late, but wow what a busy week! )

So our 2022 edition Rio Linda Knights varsity team is having a bit of a struggle right now. They came out two weeks ago and beat the tar out of Cordova, 48-7. The next week was a bye. A hole in the schedule. Time to rest up and recouperate before coming back home to face Foothill.

I think there was a little too much recuperation.

The Knights got taken to the woodshed last Friday as the Foothill Mustangs picked up every loose ball they could find and ran all over the joint, outscoring the Knights 32-6.

There were a handful of bright spots; The Knights defense still played tough, holding the Mustangs to the center of the field on many series and holding the Foothill offense scoreless in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

Then there was the Knight’s offense driving 54 yards down the field for a touchdown before the end of the first half. If -that- team took the field for each series, they would hang with most of the visiting squads that come calling.

RB Anthony Grahn has 248 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season and continues to be the Knight’s workhorse running back.

In the end, the Knights could just not hang onto the ball. Two loose balls were returned for touchdowns in the first half. The score at halftime was 18-6.

The Knights defense came out of the locker room at halftime ready to play, preventing the Foothill offense from scoring until just 6 minutes were left to play in the 4th quarter.

But less than a minute later, Foothill’s defense intercepted a pass, handing the offense a chance to score again.

The Foothill defense picked off another Rio Linda pass late in the 4th which sealed the deal.

The Knights will travel to Auburn on Friday night (tomorrow night, the 23rd) to face the #9 Placer Hillmen. This begins a 3-game road trip, all against very tough teams. This is 4-0 Placer’s homecoming game.

Rio Linda has only beaten Placer once since 2014 and lost last year’s game 56-0.

The following game is at 3-1 Dixon on September 30th, beginning the first year of Golden Empire League play. The Knights then open October on Friday the 7th at #14 Casa Roble.

Gametime Friday night is 5pm for JV, 7pm for Varsity.

The Rio Linda Messenger will cover the game with live cut-ins on Facebook at Facebook.com/RioLindaMessenger.

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