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Truckee Mavericks set defensive tone

Special to the Sun
Courtesy Cherise WilliamsTavin Hamilton brings down a Fernley kick returner on a special teams play. Hamilton finished the day with a personal-best three tackles and as the leading rusher with 18 yards on three carries.
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Eight of Truckee’s defensive players turned in personal-best performances last Saturday against the visiting Fernley Vaqueros in a Maverick Division Sierra Youth Football League matchup.

The 7- and 8-year-old Wolverines had six players in three tackles and five in three others. After several collisions behind the line of scrimmage, some of their white helmets showed black and orange scuff marks, the color of their counterpart’s helmets.

On two of those collisions, the Vaqueros put the ball on the ground and Truckee’s leading tackler for the game, defensive tackle Colton Conklin, dove inches short from recovering a much-needed turnover.



The Vaqueros overcame all the Wolverines’ best efforts and shut out Truckee 38-0 behind their own blitzing-style defense that stifled Truckee’s offense with five sacks and several tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

The best defensive player for the Wolverines was Conklin and his 13 tackles, which represented a best total for the season. Following Conklin with a personal best of his own was defensive tackle Matthew Seline. His game total of 11 tackles still lofts him as the Wolverines’ leading tackler on the season. Linebacker Jacob Moule more than tripled his previous best performance with 10 tackles. Four of his stops were behind the line of scrimmage.



Safety Hunter Hansell was audibly the biggest hitter on the field as one of his hits could be heard from over 50 yards away. He turned in his personal best nine tackles.

Defensive end Carsen Jensen and linebacker Jackson Kahl one-upped their previous personal best in the last game with eight tackles. Half of Jensen’s tackles were behind the line and Kahl lead the team with two solo tackles.

Cornerback Tavin Hamilton took advantage of his first opportunity on defense and tallied three tackles with one behind the line and another a solo tackle. Hamilton is usually kept out of defensive duties to help preserve him for his quarterback role.

Nose tackle Aidan Anderson matched his personal best with two tackles on the day.

Defensive ends Hutton Johnson and Jason Roth did not turn in personal-best performances but contributed with four tackles each. Cornerback Ryland Morrison chipped in two tackles. Linebacker Mitchell Mueller and cornerback Damon Parisi each had a tackle.

Parisi also contributed on offense as a running back with two carries into the second level of the Vaqueros defense. He took a handoff up field for 5 yards and a quick pitch for 6.

Quarterback Hamilton led Truckee with 18 yards on three carries. Hamilton had the longest run of the day for the Wolverines as he took a quarterback keeper around the right side for an 8-yard gain. He also completed his only pass attempt for 2 yards.

Hamilton was pressured all day but did manage to get off his only pass attempt of the day with three defenders closing in on him.

Running back Johnson was Hamilton’s target and he made a diving catch for the short completion. Johnson was the third and final offensive contributor with his 2-yard catch and 5 yards on four carries.

Kick returner Parisi had the only return yardage for the Wolverines. He had two returns for 13 yards. Parisi’s biggest return was a cutback up the middle for 10 yards.

The Wolverines (1-4) take on the Damonte Ranch Mustangs (1-4) in their last home game of the year Saturday at River View Sports Park’s small field.


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