Winning records were not enough to send Lathrop to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs in Ryan Teicheira’s first two seasons as coach.

He’s hoping that some of the heartbreaking moments from last year serve as valuable learning experiences.

The Spartans finished 6-4 for a second straight year, but strength of schedule and computer ratings kept them on the outside looking in. Ultimately, Lathrop was done in by missed opportunities in one-score defeats to Bradshaw Christian, Pacheco and Los Banos.

“We’re motivated,” offensive tackle Dominic Corral said. “We really want to get past that six-win mark. Our goal is to win the WAC championship. Being stuck at 6-4, we don’t want that. We want more.”

A win over outright champion Los Banos would have earned a split of the title for the Spartans, which would have been their first in program history and a clincher for that elusive postseason berth. Lathrop’s only postseason appearance occurred in 2015.

“We’ve talked about the 7-8 plays that could have been season changers for us,” Teicheira said. “The juniors can probably tell you every single one of those plays, and I know it doesn’t sit well with them. They’re hungry to get those wins and finish those games that they didn’t last year.”

Even with an almost entirely new cast of skill position players on offense, Lathrop is confident it can once again contend for the WAC championship and a postseason berth.

“Everyone is tired of missing the playoffs by one game,” tight end/defensive lineman Nathan Martinez said. “Everyone is really stepping it up this year, from the seniors coming back to the juniors coming up. Everyone wants to win. It’s the same mind set, and we’re really determined to get to that next level.”

Here’s a closer look at the Spartans:

Offense: The Wing-T has been a great fit for Lathrop, thus far.

Teicheira has had the linemen to implement the run-based attack, and Spartans ball carriers will have another year to run behind Corral. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound All-WAC tackle brings the most size and experience up front.

“We had mostly seniors on the line last year, but I think this year we’re going to take a big step,” Corral said of the offense. “We’re a lot faster and more physical overall.”

A defensive standout a year ago, Jimari Dove will get more touches out of the backfield at tailback. Senior Julio Garcia is locked in at fullback, and several players will rotate at wingback.

“We have a lot of weapons that we’re excited about,” Teicheira said.

He is hopeful that the team will be able to open up the passing game this season. Teagan Shevlin got most of the snaps behind center last season after original starter Jericho Santillan went down with a knee injury.

Jordan Blase is also getting a look after quarterbacking the 5-4 junior varsity team. Sophomore Treydon Santos led Lathrop’s perfect run through WAC competition at the freshman level, though Teicheira views him as a multi-faceted threat who can line up in various spots in the offense.

“As much as we’d like to say it’s solidified, we need to have some competition (for starting quarterback),” Teicheira said. “We want to have somebody that can give us a great element in the run and pass game and build off of what we did last year.”

Defense: Justin Muschott replaces longtime and now-retired defensive coordinator Ross Tisdell, and he has returning talent at every level.

It starts up front, with junior all-conference selection Sean Teu and Javier Guevara in the middle with Martinez at end. There is also much potential from 6-6, 220-pound Casyn Hopping at the other end. Corral will be included in the rotation.

“Our defensive line is something we feel is going to be our strong point this year,” Teicheira said. “We love the quickness that we have paired with the strength of those guys in the middle. It’s going to be fun to watch.”

Junior Michael Adams and sophomore Pablo Pena, brought up as a freshman last season, and Garcia are battling for starting spots at linebacker.

Dove, who tallied a team-high four interceptions last year, leads the defensive backfield along with fellow senior Adrian Zuniga.

Teicheira said the team will have the flexibility to switch from its traditional 4-4 front to a nickel defense.

“We have a lot of skill guys, but we’re an in-the-trenches type of team,” Teicheira said. “That’s where we start.”

Schedule: Lathrop is rekindling an old rivalry in week zero when Sierra visits. It’s a special one for Teicheira, a Sierra grad who was offensive coordinator for the 2015 Timberwolves team that claimed a state title.

The Spartans will then have revenge in mind the next two weeks, traveling to perennial small-school contender Bradshaw Christian and hosting Battle of I-5 rival Weston Ranch.

Teicheira likes the varying challenges his team will face in every pre-league contest, from Sierra’s spread offense to Bradshaw’s physical Wing-T and Weston Ranch’s prolific pistol.

Lathrop opens league with contenders Pacheco and Ceres at home and later ends with champion Los Banos and rival Mountain House on the road.

“They understand that nothing is going to be given to us because of our record — we have to win the WAC to solidify our spot,” Teicheira said. “We have a better understanding of that now because of what’s happened the last two years.”