Junior Hillmen split with El Dorado in openers

Youth Football, by Brett Del Balso, Gold Country News ServiceThe Placer Junior Hillmen?s older two teams opened their All-American Youth Football & Cheer season Saturday with victories over the visiting El Dorado Junior Trojans at LeFebvre Stadium.Placer will visit Florin?s Panther Pride next Saturday, when the Junior Pee Wees will again kick off action at 9 a.m.Placer Junior Midgets 33, El Dorado 14: The age-12-14 Junior Hillmen put on a rushing clinic, as Anthony Skeaton led the running attack with three touchdowns in a 100-yard rushing performance.Placer struck first, scoring on a 10-yard run from Brandon Murray, and Skeaton followed with a touchdown run of 12 yards.The Trojans created doubt on the Hillmen sideline after fighting back with a pair of TDs to tie the game at 14 just before halftime. But the Junior Hillmen turned the tide for good on a 40-yard TD pass from Michael Lawrence to Jason Robison, before Skeaton helped them pull away with scoring runs of 60 and 70 yards. Placer?s defense was led by Ryan Kotey, and offensive lineman Alex Panighetti cleared out huge holes for the rushers.Placer Midgets 22, El Dorado 0: The 14- and 15-year-old Junior Hillmen rolled behind a strong all-around defensive effort. Richard Keys scored the first TD by falling on a fumble in the end zone. Michael Whamond added another defensive score on a 65-yard interception return that saw him outrun the Junior Trojan offense.Placer moved the ball well but struggled inside the red zone, failing to score four times. Zachary Wenrick played a great game, finally punching one in from four yards out in the second half and producing a 65-yard rushing performance.El Dorado Pee Wees 12, Placer 0: It was a defensive battle in the division for ages 10-12. The Junior Trojans scored first on a fumble recovery that was returned for a TD, then set themselves up for another score by blocking a punt and returning it to the Placer 1-yard line.?Our defense had a good game,? Placer head coach Dan Bybee said. ?They basically shut the Junior Trojans down, but their defense shut us down, too.?Luke Lambeth played outstandingly on defense, Bybee said. Lambeth and Richard Andrade each had about eight tackles, with Lambeth adding two sacks. Mark Anderson also contributed two sacks for the Junior Hillmen.?Our offense wasn?t in sync,? Bybee said. ?Our defense had to take over in our territory nearly every time but they responded well.?El Dorado Junior Pee Wees 12, Placer 6: It was a tense first half of day?s first game, for ages 8-10, as all scoring took place in the second quarter.The Trojans got on the board first after controlling the ball for the entire first quarter. With two minutes to go, the Hillmen?s Jeffery Devine broke loose for a 30-yard touchdown to tie it up at 6-6. But after attempting a kickoff with 10 players, El Dorado capitalized on Placer?s mistake by charging to the side of the missing player and returning it for a touchdown.Devine finished the day with 83 yards on six carries, while Sam Cooper played well at quarterback for the Junior Hillmen. Teammate Nicholas Cazel was all over the field on defense.