‘We want to show them who we are.’ Livingston begins final season in Trans-Valley League
Zack Duran stays busy during Livingston High School football practices.
The junior plays running back on offense and linebacker on defense. He even will take snaps at quarterback.
Rarely does Duran get a chance to just stand on the sideline to catch his breath.
“We’re going to count on him a lot,” said Steven Wine, who begins his second season as the Wolves’ head coach. “He’s probably the smartest guy out there, and he’s only a junior. He’s a leader out there. He plays everything for us. He’s our backup QB, he plays tailback, wing and fullback.”
Duran loves the challenge.
“My coach holds me to a high standard, and I don’t want to see my standards lowered,” Duran said. “Part of my job is to keep the team going. We have a good bond. A lot of us have been playing together since childhood.”
Duran isn’t alone. With a roster of about 30, every player will be asked to play multiple positions.
Quarterback Sebastian Casanova will take off the red jersey he wears for protection on offense to slide in at defensive back on defense. Running backs will play linebacker or defensive back on defense, and linemen are ready to go both ways.
“Last year when we played Riverbank we had 18 guys,” Wine said. “It seems since COVID, numbers have gone back up in other places but we haven’t caught up for whatever reason, but I’ll take 11 guys who want to play.”
With the Sac-Joaquin Section undergoing realignment next year, this is the Wolves’ last season in the Trans-Valley League. Livingston moves to the Western Athletic Conference next year.
The TVL is widely considered the toughest small-school league in the state, with teams like Hilmar, Escalon, Ripon and Hughson. Escalon and Hughson both won section championships last year.
Wine said there was an audible groan when he informed his players that Livingston would be leaving the TVL.
“We’re just going to try our best with it being our last year,” Duran said. “We want to show them who we are. We’re not the biggest team, but we’ll be tough. We’ve put in a lot of work and a lot of time in the weight room this summer.”
Livingston 2023 Schedule
Aug. 18 at Le Grand
Aug. 25 at Pacheco
Sept. 1 vs Argonaut
Sept. 8 vs El Capitan
Sept. 15 vs Sonora
Sept. 29 at Hilmar
Oct. 6 vs Hughson
Oct. 13 vs Ripon
Oct. 20 at Modesto Christian
Oct. 27 vs Escalon
