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By John Todd | Rio Linda Online
A year ago, Rio Linda watched a 20-point halftime lead disappear in a one-point loss at Woodland. Friday, the Knights get another shot at the Wolves—with Senior Night, second place and playoff hopes adding weight to the regular-season finale.
Both teams enter 5–4 overall and 4–1 in the Golden Empire League. The winner takes second place outright behind Sutter.
Junior varsity kicks off at 5 p.m., followed by varsity at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Rio Linda High School.
Last year’s lead slipped away
The Knights started fast at Woodland on Oct. 24, 2025, scoring 14 points in each of the first two quarters to take a 28–8 halftime lead.
Woodland held Rio Linda scoreless after the break, scored eight points in the third quarter and added 13 in the fourth to escape with a 29–28 victory.
Louis Means rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries for Rio Linda. Woodland’s Alex Van Dam scored three rushing touchdowns and finished with 72 yards on nine carries. Both return for this year’s matchup.
Anderson and Means lead the Knights
Rio Linda comes into Friday’s game following its highest-scoring performance of the season, a 63–21 victory over El Camino.
Zayden Anderson led that effort with 300 rushing yards and four touchdowns on just 17 carries. The junior averages 115.8 rushing yards per game, according to statistics posted on MaxPreps.
Louis Means gives the Knights another productive option on the ground, averaging 88 yards per game and leading the team with 11 total touchdowns.
On defense, senior Ace Perez-Solorio leads Rio Linda with 6.4 tackles per game. Senior Jessie Miralrio has recorded nine sacks, while junior Tyrone Cooper leads the secondary with four interceptions.
Woodland brings a two-way threat
The Wolves arrive after a bye, carrying a three-game winning streak that includes victories over Casa Roble, Natomas and Dixon.
Junior Cohen Dwyer is a player Rio Linda will need to account for on both sides of the ball. Woodland’s posted team leaders list him at 82 receiving yards per game, with 14 total touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Against Dixon, Dwyer caught four passes for 156 yards and added an interception in Woodland’s 35–24 victory. That performance earned him a Cal-Hi Sports Northern California multipurpose Player of the Week honor.
Alex Van Dam, whose three rushing touchdowns helped Woodland win last year’s meeting, leads the Wolves’ ground game at 83.5 yards per game.
On defense, junior linebacker Jackson Soden averages 11.7 tackles per game, while senior Jayden Yoshino leads Woodland with three sacks.
Finish first, then watch the brackets
Rio Linda’s running game faces a Woodland defense with an active linebacker corps and a ball-hawking secondary. At the other end, containing Dwyer and Van Dam will be central to the Knights’ effort.
Steve Montoya’s Division V projection currently places Rio Linda in the eight-team field and Woodland outside it. Those are projections, not official selections, and Friday gives both teams one final opportunity to strengthen their case.
For the Knights, the immediate goal is clear: finish Senior Night with a winning regular-season record and sole possession of second place.
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