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6 turnovers thwart LHS in frustrating loss to Jags
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TRACY — Lathrop’s new-look spread offense exploded for 471 yards Friday, but six turnovers proved to be its undoing in a heartbreaking 27-26 loss to Kimball at West High’s Steve Lopez Stadium.
“It definitely could have gone a different direction if it wasn’t for the turnovers,” Lathrop coach Joe Pirillo said. “We see how explosive our offense can be, we just had to cut back on the mistakes. We had poor tackling on defense, offensively we dropped balls, had fumbles and an interception — they all killed us.”
Kimball (1-1), by comparison, racked up 287 yards. After Lathrop (0-2) went ahead 26-20 with 6:37 left, the Jaguars recaptured the lead three plays later on a 46-yard run. The Spartans had two more drives but fumbled on the first play of its final series.
The win was Kimball’s first under head coach Mike Kuhnlenz, who, like Pirillo, is a Manteca High graduate.
“It stings when you can outgain someone like that and lose by one point,” Pirillo said.
Quarterback Justin Manuel helped lead the way for Lathrop, completing 14 of 24 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. He also had a rushing a rushing touchdown.
Sebastian Iniguez rambled for 155 yards on 28 carries, and sophomore Isaac Ramos — the younger brother of former Spartans standout Michael Ramos — contributed 181 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts all in the second half
“He just gave us that spark,” Pirillo said of the diminutive Ramos.
It just wasn’t enough to overcome the six giveaways.
Lathrop has a bye next week before hosting rival Sierra on Sept. 7.