Placer Hillmen Football

Located in the Sierra Nevada foothill town of Auburn, California, Placer High School is home to one of the most storied football programs in the state. Founded in 1897, the Hillmen have taken part in many great gridiron battles for well over a century. Beginning in 1972, co-head coaching greats Bill Miller and Tom Johnson led their teams on an impressive 10-year run in which Placer won two state championships (1977, 80), five section championships (1975-77, 80-81), and seven league titles (1972,75-77, 79, 80-81).

In recent years, current head coach and former Hillman, Joey Montoya and his staff have helped return the program to prominence. Since his return to the sidelines in 2007, Montoya has taken his teams to six section title games (2008-09, 2016-19), winning the section title in 2017. In 2017, in addition to winning the section title, the Hillmen went on to win the Northern California Div. 4-AA State Championship vs Salinas and came just 3 points shy of winning the state title, falling 46-43 to Crenshaw in Los Angeles.

After winning the Pioneer Valley League championship for six straight years, Placer moved on to the Foothill Valley League in 2018, where they had an undefeated regular season, won the Foothill Valley League championship, and were the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 runners-up.

In 2019 the Hillmen went undefeated in league play, won their second consecutive FVL title, 8th straight league championship, and were the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 runners-up. Placer’s dominance in the FVL continued as they had an undefeated regular season in 2022 and went undefeated in the FVL in 2023, resulting in their 9th and 10th league titles.

Looking ahead to the upcoming 2024 season, the Hillmen are looking forward to playing in the newly restructured Foothill Valley League, as well as extending the program’s streak of fifteen consecutive playoff appearances! Placer will kick off their season at home on August 23 against Casa Roble. Other key home games this year include Antelope (September 13), Roseville (September 27), 12 Bridges (October 18), and Homecoming/Senior Night against Yuba City (October 25).

Key road games include Rio Linda (August 30), Del Oro (September 6), Del Campo (September 20), Nevada Union (October 4), and River Valley (November 1).

Come out and catch all the action for what promises to be yet another exciting season on The Hill!!