Truckee Wolverines Enter NIAA Playoffs on a 32 Game Winning Streak
By: J. Ray Dockter
Welcome to the playoffs!!!
The Truckee Wolverines football team, led by Head Coach Josh Ivens, enter the 2024 NIAA Playoffs on a 32-game winning streak. The Wolverines have the tenth longest winning streak in the nation, dating back to 2022.
As mentioned above the Wolverines have not lost a game since September 2, 2022; a span of 799 days, as they have rattled off 32 consecutive victories in the process. During their winning streak they have won three league championships and two state championships.
With their 32nd consecutive victory two weeks ago against South Tahoe, 49-0, in the "Sierra Bowl" they have tied Reno HS (1950-1952) for the seventh longest winning streak in NIAA history. If they are able to defeat Spring Creek (Today, 1 PM at Surprise Stadium in Truckee, Calif.) they will be in sole possession of the seventh longest winning streak in NIAA history, but they would still be eight wins shy of the school record for consecutive victories (41) set from 2009-2012 during the school's run of four consecutive state championships.
The Wolverines have been winning this season in dominant fashion, racking up 387 points, while only allowing 64 points defensively over ten games. They have stepped it up even more during the league season - against Northern 3A competition they have gone 7-0 while outscoring their opponents 265-28 for an average score of 37.8 (points per game for Truckee) to 4 (points per game for their opponents), dominating them by almost 34 points per game, including three shutouts. In fact, the Wolverines have posted four shutouts this season, the other being a non-league 42-0 road victory against Union Mine (El Dorado, Calif.) early in the season.
Offensively the Wolverines are led by Senior QB Jace Estabrook, who has accounted for 23 Total Touchdowns (13 Passing, 10 Rushing) while dazzling as a dual-threat signal caller. Over ten games Truckee averages 38.7 points per game and Estabrook is at the controls through it all. His style of play is similar to Kyler Murray (QB, Arizona Cardinals) albeit with much greater team success this season. Estabrook is not a one-man band offensively as he is flanked by fellow Senior playmakers Dylan Flynn, Joe Birnbaum and Logan Arata.
Defensively the Wolverines are led by a quartet of Seniors. LBs Luke Lauter and Paul Ronzone have paired nicely with DE Ethan Stendell and DB Calvin Curtis to make plays for the team all season. They have been complimented by five additional Seniors, they are LBs Ryder Crezee, Colby Jitloff, and Jackson Wicks as well as DBs Chase Rothery and Paxton Lubrano. These nine have been catalysts in Truckee's vaunted "Red Dawn" defense that has suffocated opposing offenses all season.
With 32 consecutive wins, Truckee is tenth in the nation for longest current winning streak.
Please read below to see where Truckee stacks up nationally with their winning streak:
1. Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio) Flyers - 59 (Win, 56-14, vs. Tri-Village), 12-0 on the season. The Flyers are outscoring their opponents 586-36 on the season.
2. Garden City (New York) Trojans - 50 (Win, 35-2, vs. Bethpage), 9-0 on the season. The Trojans are outscoring their opponents 361-46 on the season.
3. Phoebus (Hampton, Virginia) Phantoms - 43 (Win, 66-7, vs. Denbigh), 10-0 on the season. The Phantoms are outscoring their opponents 465-58 on the season.
4. Sheridan (Wyoming) Broncs - 40 (Win, 48-6, vs. Laramie), 10-0 on the season. The Broncs are outscoring their opponents 468-57 on the season. Played last night but found no result.
5-t. Mount Airy (North Carolina) Granite Bears - 39 (Win, 42-7, vs. Alleghany), 10-0 on the season. The Granite Bears are outscoring their opponents 428-75 on the season. Next game currently not scheduled.
5-t. Washington (Oklahoma) Warriors - 39 (Win, 35-0, vs. Lindsay), 10-0 on the season. The Warriors are outscoring their opponents 454-104 on the season.
7-t. Grundy Center (Iowa) Spartans - 35 (Win, 35-6, vs. Sumner-Fredericksburg), 11-0 on the season. The Spartans are outscoring their opponents 437-75 on the season.
7-t. Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk, Nebraska) Knights - 35 (Win, 41-14, vs. Raymond Central), 11-0 on the season. The Knights are outscoring their opponents 445-155 on the season.
9. Carl Albert (Midwest City, Oklahoma) Titans - 34 (Win, 52-7, vs. Altus), 10-0 on the season. The Titans are outscoring their opponents 539-26 on the season.
10. Truckee (California) Wolverines - 32 (Win, 49-0, vs. South Tahoe), 10-0 on the season. The Wolverines are outscoring their opponents 387-64 on the season.
J. Ray Dockter has been covering high school sports since 2022. If you have a story worth telling let him know via Twitter @J_RayDoc.
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