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Homecoming battle no problem for TTHS

ERICK STUDENICKA

While the floats, princesses and marching band garnered their fair share of attention, it was the Wolverine defense and special teams which stole the show during Homecoming Saturday, as the Tahoe-Truckee High School varsity football team took over sole possession of first place in Division I with a 48-0 shellacking of Battle Mountain.

“The special teams and defense really stepped up for us during the game,” said Wolverine coach Bob Shaffer. “We had a blocked punt, two scores on defense and a punt returned for a touchdown – there’s 28 points right there.”

Shaffer said the defense did an excellent job in limiting the Longhorns’ primary rushing threat, Cody Jones, to 12 yards on 20 carries.



“As far as stopping the run, Battle Mountain didn’t have one run longer than six yards,” said Shaffer. “We figured (Jones) was the kid to stop and we did a good job on him.”

Going into the game, several Wolverine players had said they were extra motivated for the match up with the Longhorns because of the chance to avenge last year’s loss to Battle Mountain, Truckee’s only loss of the season. Ironically, one of the few seniors who didn’t participate in last year’s game, Mike Avilla, turned in one of the biggest performances of the day with touchdowns on a 43-yard punt return and a 70-yard interception return.



Avilla, a defensive back who moved to Truckee during the summer from Fairfield, said he had heard plenty about Battle Mountain from his teammates.

“I knew I had to get motivated for the game and step up my play a notch,” Avilla said.

Avilla spread the credit around for his interception and punt return.

“The team has thrown real good blocks on punts this season; I just get behind the wall they set up,” Avilla said. “On the interception, I have to give credit to the coaches, because the coaches knew what pass pattern they were running and I knew where the ball would be thrown.”


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