Prep football: Placer rallies behind community hurt by wildfire as it moves to 4-0

When the final horn sounded Friday night in Folsom, Placer High School faithful ran onto the field.

It wasn’t out of the ordinary. This happens all the time. Coaches, students, cheerleaders, parents and students joined the players in the postgame talk. Everyone had a smile on their face. But it was different.

Many of those people were suffering because of the Mosquito Fire that impacted the Foresthill community near Auburn. Some players, coaches and teachers at the school evacuated from their homes this week.

There was a little lift-me-up Friday night. It took Placer marching down the field after Vista del Lago running back Thomas Keegan scored a go-ahead touchdown with 1:23 left. The Hillmen responded and capped a scoringdrive with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Joshua Craycraft to Kosta Aleksic with 37 seconds left to upend the 18th-ranked Eagles 21-18.

For a few hours, everything felt normal on the visitor sideline. Football provided an escape and the players provided the call to action. In his final words to the team after the game, Placer coach Joey Montoya dedicated the win to the community. He grew up in the foothills.

“It’s virtually the same community separated by a canyon,” Montoya said. “We have people that go to Placer that have been evacuated between Georgetown and Foresthill. We have teachers, students and players (that have been evacuated). With the adversity of the heat, smoke and heavy hearts (because of) everything that’s happening in our backyard. The community of Placer County, Auburn, Foresthill, Georgetown and Cool, we need something to smile about and these kids gave it to them.”

It was unclear whether the game would happen because of the bad air quality in the greater Sacramento area because of those same fires. The junior varsity game started late and had a running clock. Both teams didn’t find out this game was a go until 3 p.m. Both teams had to adjust their practice plans because of record heat and smoke this past week.

“This week was the week of adapt and change,” Montoya said. “We changed three of our practices to the morning and had to practice once late at night because of the heat and smoke. This was the week of adversity. I have to give our kids a ton of credit. They got ice in their veins.”

Aleksic took it all in. Scoring a game-winning touchdown and having a career night was a dream come true. He moved to the area from Milwaukee, Wis., when he was in middle school and grew up going to Hillmen games.

He idolized those before him in green and gold. When his community needed him, he answered the call. Aleksic rushed for 102 yards and had 166 yards receiving with two touchdown passes from Craycraft, who finished with 224 yards passing. Baylor Kelley rushed for 81 yards and had a 23-yard touchdown burst in the second quarter.

“It feels surreal to be where I’m at,” Aleksic said. “I grew up watching Placer and thinking they’re so big and fast. And I’m here now.”

He added, “Very important (to get the win). All you can do is feel sorry for them. We had to bring some happiness around this town … 100% (we had to rally) together. We are making sure everyone is OK and has toothbrushes. We have to make sure we are all good. It’s more of a home than a community. Everyone knows everybody. You see them in the grocery store and get recognized. It’s all fun and great.”

After starting last season 0-5, the ninth-ranked Hillmen are 4-0. Last season they dropped one-score games. This season, they have won three of their first four games on the final drive. The defense forced three incompletions and a catch in bounds to run out the clock on VDL’s final drive. Josh Maxwell and Collin Bray both finished with a sack.

“It feels a hundred million times better,” Montoya said about the start of the season. “I’m so proud of our kids.”

Placer led Vista del Lago 7-6 at the half and cut the deficit to two points when John Koett found Matt Long in the third quarter for a 27-yard touchdown. Koett finished with 243 yards passing. Long hauled in 10 catches for 166 yards. Keegan rushed for 130 yards.

Placer has a bye next week and opens Foothill Valley League play against Rio Linda on Sept. 23. Vista del Lago (1-3) faces Sacramento Charter nexst Saturday in a Capital Athletic League opener.

“That’s the best 1-3 team in the section,” Montoya said as he walked off the field.