It isn't just Zack Graves doing all the damage on opposing defenses this fall for No. 4 Whitney, though the senior tailback has certainly done his part.
It's the offensive line that returned three key starters from last year's 10-win season that has anchored one of the region's most prolific offenses. And yes, it's an offense that features a game-breaking touchdown machine in Graves, who leads the Sac-Joaquin Section in rushing with 971 yards and has 16 touchdowns (and he has three touchdown passes, too).
It is a physical and cohesive lot of lineman that have allowed Graves to average a whopping 9.08 yards a carry for a 5-0 team that has averaged 7.24 yards a pop. Left tackle Mike Hathorn, a team captain, is joined in the trenches by right guard Andrey Feyster and center Zach Ramos.
What's more, Charlie Hetland has been solid at quarterback for coach Mike Gimenez and Jake Snyder has caught five touchdowns.
The line, Graves and company prepare for No. 16 Bear River on Friday, where it will boil down to this: Who ever runs the ball, wins it, and probably the Pioneer Valley League as well.
