The Coleville Wolves moved to 4-0 in league play Friday night with a 44-26 comeback victory over the hosting Carlin Railroaders.
Carlin looked to run away with the game early when they opened the game with an onside kick recovery and then drove down the field to take an early 8-0 lead.
Carlin forced a three and out on Coleville's first possession and took a 14-0 lead as they physically dominated the Wolves with their power running game.
With time running out in the first quarter Coleville finally got their offense on track when Emmi Sandoval caught a short pass in the flats and took it 31 yards for the Wolves first score.
The second quarter turned into a defensive struggle with Coleville's David Sandoval recovering a fumble in the closing minute of the second quarter inside the 20-yard line to kill Carlin's best scoring opportunity. Carlin took a 14 to 8 lead into the locker room.
After Coleville's defense forced a punt on Carlin's first series in the third quarter, Emmi Sandoval gave Coleville its first lead of the night when he caught a 73-yard touchdown pass thrown by Josiah Huhta. Coleville's opportunistic defense that forced three second-half turnovers and quick-strike offense that included a 76-yard touchdown run by Buh Hamilton and a 70-yard touchdown run by Emmi Sandoval became the story for the rest of the game as Coleville clinched the critical road victory.
Buh Hamilton ended the night with 239 yards rushing with three touchdowns. Emmi Sandoval led the Coleville receivers with 129 yards on 8 receptions. Josiah Huhta, despite seeing heavy pressure all night, was 10-for-19 passing for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively the outsized Wolves had a number of outstanding performers including Emmi Sandoval, Tyler Summers, Buh Hamilton, Mat Randall, Austin Byers, Josiah Huhta, and Kambel Kenaston who were all in on at least 10 tackles.
"I was very proud of performance of our team tonight. We overcame a two-touchdown deficit, a long bus ride, and a very physical team and in doing so showed a tremendous amount of character and heart. I am particularly proud of our offensive line that rebounded from a shaky start and really did a job in second half protecting our quarterback and opening running lanes," commented Coach Sandy following the game.
The Wolves get a week off before hosting the Smith Valley bulldogs on Oct. 2. The game will begin at 1 p.m.
The Sierra Lutheran volleyball team improved to 7-0 on the year with a three-game sweep of Virginia City last Wednesday.
The Falcons won 25-14, 25-19, 25-19.
Junior Tiffany Patrick led the team with six kills, seven assists, five aces and three digs.
Hannah Ediss added five kills and six assists, sophomore Hanna Rutherford had five key digs and seniors Mariah West and Megan Einspahr had three aces each.
West also had two kills and was strong in the passing and serve-receive game.
Sierra Lutheran travels to Reno Thursday to face the Sage Ridge Scorpions.
