SCORING SUMMARY
Mtn. House 0 6 0 6 – 12
Lathrop 14 7 0 6 – 27
First quarter
L – Andre Muqhar 18 run (Angel Barajas kick), 7:06
L – Pablo Pena 12 run (Barajas kick), 1:20
Second quarter
M – Erin Foster 4 run (bad snap), 9:33
L – Pena 7 run (Barajas kick), :34
Fourth quarter
L– Pena 13 run (run failed), 11:18
M – Jacoby Johnson 2 run (pass failed), :58
The Lathrop High Spartans improved to 2-0 in the young season.
They accomplished that by taking care of former Western Athletic Conference rival Mountain House, 27-12, in a non-league affair at Bennie Gatto Field.
At times, it wasn't pretty.
"We shot ourselves in the foot with all those penalties, which were drive killers," said Lathrop coach Ryan Teicheira, referring to his team's 120 yards of infractions.
The Spartans certainly looked good early on, scoring on their first two possessions.
The same went for the Lathrop defense, led by Casyn Hopping and Sea Teu. They consistently kept the pressure on the Mustangs.
On special teams, Teu blocked a punt on Mountain House's first possession, giving his team the short field.
Lathrop, which once again used an array of runners, scored on Andre Muqhar's run from 18 yards out to get the ball rolling.
The Spartans made 14-0 on Pablo Pena's 12-yard touchdown run and a pair of Angel Barajas extra-point kicks.
Pena was just getting started. He finished with three TDs, racking up a game-high 103 yards on 13 carries.
"(Pablo) is a beast," said Teicheira. "He runs hard — he's our security blanket."
Jacoby Johnson momentarily provided a boost for Mountain House on his kick-off return to midfield late in the opening quarter.
Quarterback Erin Foster kept the drive alive with a pass to Nasir Campbell to inside the Spartans 5. Foster scored from there.
Lathrop overcame their penalty-marred second quarter by getting good field position shortly before the half.
Quarterback Jordan Blase had the big play, picking up 17 yards on fourth down.
Pena's second TD made it 21-6.
Mountain House (0-2) threatened early in second half, marching the ball deep into Lathrop territory only to be denied on Eliseo Lopez's interception near the goal line.
The Spartans caught another break when Alejandro Rivera blocked a punt.
Blase found Maqhar on a 16-yard completion, setting up Pena's third score from 13 yards out.
Prior to the game, Spartans Nation paid tribute to the late Wayne Thallander, who volunteered countless hours at Lathrop High in recent years, with a moment of silence.
Next up for Lathrop is Patterson.
