By John Todd | Rio Linda Online
Sept. 25, 2026
Rio Linda High School opens Golden Empire League football play on the road tonight against Dixon. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Dixon High School, 555 College Way. Both teams enter the game 1-3.
The Knights are trying to regain the form that carried them to a 28-21 season-opening win over Marysville. They have since lost to Center, Foothill and Placer, including a 42-0 setback in Auburn last week. Dixon also won its opener before losing three straight, scoring seven points in each loss.
No. 9 Louis Means gives Rio Linda its leading ground threat. The junior averages 83.5 rushing yards per game in the statistics posted to MaxPreps and has accounted for three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving. No. 25 Zayden Anderson adds 62 rushing yards per game and two rushing scores. At receiver, No. 6 Tyrone Cooper leads the posted figures at 26.5 yards per game and has a touchdown catch. Cooper also has two interceptions on defense.
Quarterback is a position to watch. No. 8 Baltazar Tate started against Placer and has completed 73.3% of his recorded passes. No. 1 Brandon Motley has also played quarterback and has a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. On defense, Means averages seven tackles per game, while Anderson and No. 44 Ace Perez-Solorio are credited with two sacks apiece.
For Dixon, No. 2 Ayden Weitz leads the Rams’ posted statistics in both rushing and receiving, with 40 rushing yards and 26 receiving yards per game. No. 23 Preston Zepeda is listed at 36 rushing yards per game. Dixon has used multiple players at quarterback: No. 17 Edwin Keller has a recorded touchdown pass, while No. 7 Mario Lorencillo has a rushing touchdown. No. 5 Wes Besseghini Jr. leads the posted defensive figures with four tackles per game and a sack.
The player statistics have different update dates: Rio Linda’s were last updated Sept. 19, while Dixon’s were last updated Sept. 17, before its Marysville game. Dixon’s figures may therefore omit its most recent performance.
Both teams have faced Marysville: Rio Linda won by seven in August, and Dixon lost by 14 last week. Tonight offers the Knights a chance to put their three-game skid behind them at the start of league play. Rio Linda won last year’s meeting with the Rams, 35-13.
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