Placer nearly perfect in 63-7 rout of Ponderosa in Foothill Valley League opener

The Placer High School football team played one quarter of even-up football before turning the game into a track meet and running past visiting Ponderosa 63-7 on Friday night at LeFebvre Stadium in a victory that kicked off the school's weekend celebration of its 125-year anniversary. Statistically, Placer (6-0) had the edge going into their Foothill Valley League opener with Ponderosa (2-3), but what transpired was far more than an edge. "I knew that we were ready to play tonight and with the kind of week we had at practice," Placer coach Joey Montoya said. "We were starting to execute at a higher level. I'm very proud of the kids, they went out and put together a great football game." Understatement. The game started reasonably enough, but the second quarter was all green and gold. In the first period, the Bruins marched to the Placer 10-yard line before running out of steam. The Hillmen took over the ball and moved it to their 20 for a first down. After running back Baylor Kelley picked up another 7 yards, quarterback Josh Craycraft went to work. The junior hit Arthur Kernacs for an 18-yard pickup and followed with a 55-yard bomb to Kelley for a touchdown. Jaxon Ramirez added the first of his nine PAT kicks to put the Hillmen up 7-0. Ponderosa came back on a 10-play drive that included seven passes and zero yards rushing. Five passes by quarterback Austin Sanchez made connections with Cole Westmoreland (23 yards), Caleb Smithee (35 yards, plus a 15-yard penalty, and one catch for a 1-yard loss) and Andrew Miller (4 yards), with the drive capped by a 14-yard touchdown to Smithee for the score. Sanchez finished the game hitting on 15 of 23 passes for 144 yards with one TD and two interceptions. Strong safety Maxwell Joiner hauled in one misguided missile, and safety Landon Fowler gathered the other. But the real light show was the offense led by linemen Mason Yokum, Zachary Robinson, Ramirez, Collin Bray, Zander Esty, Blake Difede and tight end Josh Maxwell. The Hillmen ran wild. Running backs Isaiah Hanley, Kelley, Kosta Aleksic, Jaden Suggs, Fowler, and Craycraft accounted for 208 yards in the second quarter alone. Kelley had 151 yards to his credit in the first half. The Placer stable of thoroughbreds totaled nearly 450 yards rushing on the night and eight touchdowns. The scoring featured Kelley (54 and 28 yards), Suggs (61 yards) Fowler (4 yards) and Aleksic (12 yards). Scoring with Joiner under center in the second half were Suggs (75 yards) and Enzo Gallo (48 and 80 yards). "They know we've been in this situation before and they know we have some much more challenging games on the horizon, starting next week down in Lincoln," Montoya said. "So, our kids are hungry and humble, and eager to get better." Is it possible? "I thought it was a team victory. I thought on opposite sides of the ball we were sharp in both phases," Montoya added. The head coach did mention some items he'd like to see cleared up, such as pass protection. Craycraft was sacked four times. But in spite of the pass rush, the quarterback threw just five times for four completions and 120 yards before being relieved by Joiner. The Hillmen will travel to Lincoln (3-3) on Friday, Oct. 7, coming off a 48-0 victory over Nevada Union. Ponderosa will visit Oakmont. PLACER 63, PONDEROSA 7 Ponderosa &emsp;&emsp;7 0 &emsp; 0 &emsp;0 – 7 Placer &emsp;&emsp;7 35 &emsp;14 &emsp;7 – 63 Placer – Baylor Kelley 55 pass from Craycraft (Jaxon Ramirez kick) Ponderosa – Caleb Smithee 14 pass from Austin Sanchez (Mason Cowen kick) Placer – Kelley 54 run (Ramirez kick) Placer – Kelley 28 run (Ramirez kick) Placer – Suggs 61 run (Ramirez kick) Placer – Fowler 4 run (Ramirez kick) Placer – Aleksic 12 run (Ramirez kick) Placer – Suggs 75 run (Ramirez kick) Placer – Gallo 48 run (Ramirez kick) Placer – Gallo 80 run (Ramirez kick)