Placer is preparing for their first league matchup of the season on Friday. After each having a week off, they and the Del Campo Cougars will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 7:30 p.m. Del Campo took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Placer, who comes in off a win.
Last Friday, everything came up roses for Placer against Burbank as the team secured a 42-6 victory. The contest marked the Hillmen's most dominant win of the season so far.
Placer got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Danny Sanchez-Harlow out in front who rushed for 57 yards and one score on only six carries, and also picked up 40 receiving yards and one touchdown. Another pass catcher making a difference was Keilin Beverage, who picked up 84 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.
Another 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.
Meanwhile, Del Campo was not able to break out of their rough patch last Friday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They lost to Antioch on the road by a 37-20 margin.
Placer will have to contain Bryce Smith as he made an impact in Del Campo's last game. He rushed for 118 yards and a pair of scores on only seven carries. Smith got the majority of those rushing yards when he took off on a run that went for an incredible 68 yards.
Del Campo now has a losing record of 2-3. As for Placer, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Placer has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 243.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Del Campo struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 200.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Placer against Del Campo in their previous meeting back in September of 2024, as the squad secured a 42-7 win. Will the Hillmen repeat their success, or do the Cougars have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
