Just when the Placer High wrestling team seemed to be running away with things, visiting Lincoln began to slowly but surely catch up.

Then the Hillmen turned to their big guys to put the Zebras away.

Junior 215-pounder Jake Styler and senior heavyweight Alec Rubio recorded pins in the final two matches of Thursday’s Pioneer Valley League dual to give Placer a 47-23 victory at Earl Crabbe Gymnasium.

Placer, the reigning PVL champion, is off to a 2-0 start in league competition this season.

“One thing that motivates our kids is that we haven’t lost a league dual the last two years,” Hillmen coach Jess Stiff said. “We want to keep this ball rolling and stay undefeated.”

The outcome of Thursday’s dual was still in doubt entering the 189-pound match. Lincoln, trailing 35-19 at that point, had a chance to win if its final three wrestlers earned pins, which are worth six team points apiece.

Hillmen senior Daniel Weathers lost the 189-pound match to Lincoln’s Jerry Williams 15-7 — the bout was close until Williams out-pointed Weathers 6-0 in the third period — but still kept Placer’s undefeated season intact by not getting pinned. The Zebras only got four points for that victory, and could at best hope for a tie after that.

Styler and Rubio, however, made sure the home crowd got the victory it came to see.

Styler recorded Placer’s only first-round pin of the night, flattening Lincoln’s Andrew Johnson 1:45 into the bout. Styler won by locking his hands behind Johnson’s head, dropping to his knees to force Johnson to the ground and promptly flattening Johnson on his back.

Rubio then pinned the Zebras’ Zachery Little 3:04 into the heavyweight match to put an exclamation point on Placer’s victory.

“We had the rest of the team behind us,” Rubio said. “Everyone on the team does real well when we get behind (each other). We use that fire to do what needs to be done.”

Styler and Rubio were just two of the five Hillmen who won by pin. Sophomore Joe Thornton earned the first one at 125 pounds, finishing off the Zebras’ Justin Casper in 3:19.

Juniors Carl Pavich and Aaron Maddox got their pins after seemingly accidental takedowns. Pavich fell on top of Lincoln’s Matt Darling in the second round at 135 pounds, then stayed there to secure the pin. Maddox got his pin at 140 pounds after Gregory Harlow rolled onto his back in the second round and Maddox found himself on top.

“Our guys … are able to seize those opportunities and make their opponent pay,” Stiff said. “If they get their opponent on their back, they know they may not get a second chance. They have to try to seal the deal right there.”

Junior Mitchell Maddox won by technical fall for Placer, beating Alfonso Maldonado 17-2 at 130 pounds.

Sophomore Andrew Naleway got Placer’s first win of the night, beating Taylor Unbeahun 15-7 in the 112-pound bout. Senior Jackson Trout followed by topping Lincoln’s Evan Rendes 13-3 at 119 pounds.

Those two victories started a string of seven straight for the Hillmen. Sophomore Steven Cox capped the run with a 12-1 win over Dustin Hillenbrand that gave Placer a 35-4 lead in team points.

“The best thing about our team is its cohesion,” Stiff said. “When we get on a roll like that, we want to keep on rolling.”

Lincoln won the next four matches after Cox’s victory. Spencer Baumann (152 pounds) and Daniel Stanley (171) each recorded pins during that stretch, with 160-pounder Renard Shaw earning a controversial last-second decision over Placer senior Kyle Hennen in between, before Styler and Rubio finally closed the door on the Zebras.

The Zebras’ Jesse Nakasone beat Placer sophomore Jordan Trout 14-1 in the 103-pound match.

In junior varsity action, Lincoln beat Placer 40-28. Senior heavyweight Cody Romero, junior 140-pounder Dalton Richardson and freshman 103-pounder Zach Uvalle each recorded pins for the Hillmen.