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COUGARS OUTLAST LATHROP
Weston Ranch’s big-play attack the difference in Battle of I-5
Lathrop-Weston Ranch football
Weston Ranch running back De’antae Lavan separates from Lathrop’s Ryan Buccat (9). - photo by Wayne Thallander

SCORING SUMMARY

LATHROP 14   8    6     0 — 34

W. RANCH 14 16   15 13 —58

 

First quarter

L — Kameron Jones 12 run (Anthony Cuellar kick), 9:13.

W — De'Andre Lavan 52 run (kick failed), 7:11.

L — Teagan Shevlin 1 run (Cuellar kick), 4:51.

W — Joshua Mellion 16 pass from Jose Aguilar (De'Andre Lavan run), 2:57.

 

Second Quarter

L — Roman Giordano 6 run (Julio Garcia run), 10:28.

W — Aguilar 14 run (De'Andre Lavan run), 7:20.

W — Mellion 7 pass from Aguilar (Aguilar run), 4:10.

 

Third Quarter

W —De'Andre Lavan 58 pass from Aguilar (De'Antae Lavan run), 11:06.

L — A.J. Duenez 10 pass from Shevlin (run failed), 6:21.

W — De'Antae Lavan 47 run (Max Paredes kick), 4:34.

L — Jones 42 run (pass failed), 2:46.

 

Fourth Quarter

W — De'Antae Lavan 75 run (Paredes kick), 7:04.

W — Aguilar 32 run (kick failed), 4:16.

 

STOCKTON — Weston Ranch High claimed the traditional Battle of I-5 Trophy Friday thanks to a 58-34 non-league victory over visiting Lathrop High.

While the Spartans (1-2) relied on their stable of runners, consisting of Roman Giordano, Kameron Jones, Julio Garcia and Jeremiah Green, the Cougars (2-1) used big plays and capitalized on miscues.

"We shot ourselves in the foot," said Lathrop coach Ryan Teicheira following the tough loss.

His team ground out 375 rushing yards with Green (nine carries, 112 yards) and Jones (15 carries, 109 yards) leading the way.

Jones scored twice with the first capping off the Spartans' 11-play drive opening drive.

Weston Ranch gave a quick preview on what was to come by turning a fourth-and-long situation into a 53-yard touchdown run by De'andre Lavan.

The elusive junior running back made a cut into the open field, turning an apparent loss into a big-play score.

Lathrop bounced back with another grind-it-out sequence. This time quarterback Teagan Shevlin scored from a yard out.

The Cougars, who will make their SJAA premiere next week against Edison, unveiled a potent passing game sparked by junior quarterback Jose Aguilar, who completed 12 of his 18 passes with no interceptions and tossed for three touchdowns.

Late in the first, he connected with Joshua Mellion on a 16-yard strike.

Both teams entered the second quarter tied, 14-14.

Garcia reeled off a big run for the Spartans early in the quarter, setting up Jones' 6-yard TD run.

Lathrop. defensively, put together a strong sequence to pin Weston Ranch deep in its own territory.

The Cougars punted the ball away only to recover the ball at midfield. From there, they quickly moved the ball and eventually scored on Aguilar's 14-yard quarterback keeper.

Weston Ranch went ahead midway in the second as Aguilar connected with Mellion again, taking a 30-22 lead.

Lathrop managed to put together another drive shortly before the intermission. Jones reached the pylon right before time expired to end the half but was ruled short of the end zone.

The Spartans coughed up the ball midway through the third. On defense, they forced the Cougars into another fourth-and-long situation.

This time, it was the other Lavan — De'antae Lavan — doing the damage. He busted loose on a 75-yard burst to the end zone while all but putting the game out of reach.

"They have some weapons," said Teicheira of Weston Ranch's skilled players.

Besides Aguilar, De'andre Lavan had 151 total yards from scrimmage with a pair of scores, and De'antae Lavan finished with a game-high 156 yards on eight carries.

Next up for Lathrop is Ceres in Western Athletic Conference play.