RALEIGH, N.C. - For the past four years, Charlotte Independence has turned away every challenge and shattered the state record for consecutive wins.
This week the Patriots became owners of the nation's longest active winning streak in high school football.
With Concord (Calif.) De La Salle's 151-game run ending last weekend, the Patriots' 63-game streak stands as the best.
It's the latest in an impressive string of achievements by the program, which is seeking to become the first to win five straight state championships.
"We don't talk about the streak," Independence coach Bill Geiler said Thursday. "I'm excited for our kids. I'm excited for our school, but it's not going to help us win a game.
"Our goal every season is to win the state championship. So if I have to sacrifice a loss to do it, I'll take it."
This year's Patriots look a little different from previous years.
Tom Knotts, the coach who led Independence to four straight state titles, left to become the quarterbacks coach at Duke, his alma mater. Geiler took over after being a longtime assistant to Knotts at Charlotte Harding, West Charlotte and Independence.
But the season opened as earlier ones began.
The Patriots (1-0) routed East Mecklenburg 69-6 last week, adding another win to a streak that began after a 34-31 loss to Shelby Crest on Sept. 1, 2000.
This week, the Patriots again began the year ranked No. 1 in the AP Class 4A state poll. They have been on that perch since the beginning of the 2001 season.
The Patriots climbed to No. 1 in one national poll this week, and are ranked No. 2 by USA Today.
Rick Strunk, associate executive director of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, said Independence's run has been one of the more amazing accomplishments he has seen since he was hired in 1986.
"I'm not sure that people can truly appreciate how difficult it is to go undefeated in one season, much less stringing together several seasons," Strunk said.
The Patriots proved they could win without heralded quarterback Chris Leak, who set a national record for career touchdown passes before going on to start at Florida as a freshman. They put together a third straight 16-0 season last year, beginning with a win against Matthews Butler for their 47th straight victory, setting the state record.
Independence faces Butler, ranked 10th in 4A, tonight.
Geiler said his team, led by AP All-State quarterback Joe Cox and receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, is used to wearing a bullseye on their jersey.
"Every time we line up to play somebody it's their Super Bowl," Geiler said. "Everybody wants to be the one that ends the streak.
"Somebody's going to end it. Somebody's going to beat us down the road. That's a fact," he said. " ... But it's not going to be because we aren't working hard."
