Del Campo is preparing for their first league matchup of the season on Friday. After each having a week off, they and the Placer Hillmen will shake off the rust and duke it out at 7:30 p.m. Del Campo has given up an average of 33.8 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
It was a proper cat-fight when Del Campo duked it out with Antioch last Friday. The Cougars took a 37-20 bruising from the Panthers. The Cougars' defeat continues a trend for the team, making it three in a row.
Del Campo might have lost, but man, Bryce Smith was a machine: he rushed for 118 yards and a pair of scores on only seven carries. Smith's longest rush was for an impressive 68 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total.
Meanwhile, Placer blew past Burbank, posting a 42-6 victory. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Hillmen's considerable advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 203rd, while the Titans are ranked 787th).
Placer's win came from a few key players Del Campo will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Danny Sanchez-Harlow, who rushed for 57 yards and one TD on only six carries, and also picked up 40 receiving yards and one touchdown. Keilin Beverage was another key player, picking up 84 receiving yards and a pair of scores.
One reason for the win was Placer's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank two different players for their defensive prowess: Brennan Collins and Jeremiah Rethi, who each picked up one sack apiece. Evan Sharples got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
The win made it two in a row for Placer and bumps their season record up to 3-2. Those victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 6 points in those games. As for Del Campo, they now have a losing record of 2-3.
| Rushing Yards | 741 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 10 |
Friday's contest will pit two of the most dominant backs against one another: Smith and Sanchez-Harlow. Smith just won't slow down this season and has run in 10 touchdowns while averaging 148.2 rushing yards per game. Sanchez-Harlow has been a dominant force too and has run in 3 touchdowns while averaging 84.4 rushing yards per game.
Del Campo was dealt a bruising 42-7 loss at the hands of Placer when the teams last played back in September of 2024. Thankfully for the Cougars, Baylor Kelley (who rushed for 231 yards and three touchdowns on only nine carries, and also caught one TD) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
