Bee’s Best prep football: No. 12 Placer hopes star-studded line clears path to playoffs
The Sacramento Bee will unveil our Top 25 football rankings from No. 25 to No. 1, a team every weekday, right up to the Aug. 19 kickoff.
No. 12 Placer
City: Auburn
School Opened: 1897
League: Foothill Valley League
Division: III
Enrollment: 1,347
2021 spring record: 5-6 overall (4-1 in league)
Coach: Joey Montoya
Outlook: Joey Montoya is never taking a “normal” offseason for granted again.
The Placer High School coach had led his team to the playoffs every year since 2008, but last year, the first regular season since the COVID-19 pandemic mucked up the 2020 campaign, was his hardest.
“It wasn’t one of our more talented teams, but had we had a full offseason, I think we would have won a handful of those early games that we lost,” said Montoya about starting last season 0-5.
Last year seemed like the year Placer’s playoff streak would end. Then the Hillmen won four straight league games and booked their ticket to the section playoffs, where they beat West Park 63-28 before falling to Vista del Lago in the quarterfinals.
“A Placer football team is one that overachieves and plays beyond their talent level,” Montoya said. In a landscape of spread formations, his team is one of the few in the region to deploy an old-school, run-heavy wing-T offense.
“Playoffs used to be a foregone conclusion for us. But all of the sudden, you start the way we did and have to win the rest of our games just to qualify, it reminds you how fun the process of qualifying for the playoffs is.”
This year, Placer’s star-studded offensive line returns for its senior season. And according to Montoya, the Hillmen will lean more into their smashmouth identity because of them.
He said that four linemen already have Division I and II offers in hand.
Senior offensive tackle Zander Esty is the most imposing, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 275 pounds. Montoya said he is “incredibly athletic and can move well for a giant young man.”
Beside him will be fellow seniors Colin Bray (tackle), Josh Maxwell (tight end) and Blake Difede (center). Montoya said Bray is a “relentless player,” Maxwell is an “elite-level athlete” and that Difede is “giant” that is “incredibly strong.”
“That unit started multiple games together last year already, so we’re experienced on that front,” Montoya said. “Where we’re not as experienced is in that backfield.
“But the good news is that all of these new kids can fly, and we haven’t had this sort of speed in a handful of years.”
Two running backs will return from last year’s team and get the first look at snaps: junior Kosta Alekaic and senior Jaden Suggs, who Montoya said suffered from injuries last season.
A name that might catch fans and opponents by surprise will be senior Isiah Hanley, who will play running back and corner. According to Montoya, Hanley had to miss last season for personal reasons, but he is “the best athlete at the school.”
Starting at quarterback for the Hillmen will be junior Josh Craycraft Jr., who Montoya said is also an “extremely good athlete” who can run and throw well.
Catching balls from Craycraft will also be a young and relatively inexperienced receivers group Montoya said is “very fast.” Junior Dash Tebbs and senior Art Kernacas will start out wide after playing part-time roles last year.
Since he has a young team of skill players, Montoya said that he won’t panic if the Hillmen have another slow start.
“Our primary focus will be October, November and December,” the coach said. “Everything before that, is just about getting better and ready for those times.”
“Our success will depend on us getting our juniors to play with the type of confidence that it normally takes them until their senior year to have. If we can do that, the sky’s the limit.”
This story was originally published August 4, 2022 at 5:00 AM.