The coaching staff has been reconstructed.

The best player graduated.

And yet, expectations remain the same at Lathrop.

Longtime assistant coach Justin Muschott is now in charge, and he wants to build on the foundation laid by predecessor Ryan Teicheira.
“Nothing has changed,” Muschott said. “The standards remain the same. The players know that, the coaches know that. There’s never been any question about what our expectations are for the season.”

The Spartans are coming off their two best seasons, both ending with 10-2 records, Western Athletic Conference outright championships and Sac-Joaquin Section Division V semifinal appearances. Two-time conference MVP and Pablo Peña was the linchpin on offense and defense the past three years, leaving with multiple single-season and career rushing, scoring and tackling records.

“We’ll take it as a compliment, but we’re already hearing that (WAC rivals) are sensing blood in the water,” Muschott said. “There’s a new coach, we lost Pablo and things like that, but we take it for what it is. We control what we can control. We don’t take it as pressure. We take it as a compliment, really.”

Muschott and the Spartans are set up well to continue on the trajectory they’re on. Players are moving up from the 9-1 junior varsity and 10-0 freshman teams, joining a senior class that provides much of the bulk.

“Obviously, it’s great having the teams that we’ve had, but it’s really been because of the culture we’ve built over the last couple of years,” Muschott said. “That continues today. Guys want to come out — we’ve had anywhere from 130-140 kids on average this summer. We’ve had up to 160 guys between the three rosters.

“The big thing for us is the kids want to come out. They want to be part of something special, and that mind set has been great across the three levels, and the records show that we’ve been doing things the right way at the lower levels.”

The fulcrum of the team remains at the line of scrimmage.

Third-year center Beau Grisham and reigning WAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Malachi Joseph are the standout returners who set the tone.

“I take the most pride in playing with physicality and technique,” Grisham said. “Even without Teicheira, we’re not going to go to stop being physical. We have to not be scared up front. Even if the guy in front of you is bigger or stronger, you have to figure out how to beat him with technique or IQ.”

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Joseph and second-year junior Jayden White lead a deep defensive line that includes other returners in Sirfelix Barney, Avner Faaaliga and Joshua Talalele.

“The defensive line is like the heart of the defense,” Joseph said. “Basically, we gotta win up front to help out the DBs (defensive backs) and linebackers.”

The offensive line is stout between the tackles with the 6-foot, 275-pound Grisham and 6-foot, 280-pound guard Shane Agbulos. Barney and Joseph could help solidify the O-line, but there is enough depth to keep the linemen fresh. Tight end Ayden Louie will also play a big part in blocking.

“We have some good options, some good depth there,” Muschott said. “We’re still trying to figure out who is going to be the guy in some spots.”

After serving as defensive coordinator the past three seasons, Muschott now calls the offense and will continue operating the Wing-T, but with tweaks catering to the versatility of his athletes.

Daryion “D.J.” Reyno flashed his potential as a sophomore, playing sporadically throughout before taking over full-time in the Spartans’ two postseason games.

“D.J. is undersized, we know that, but we saw flashes of what he’s able to do with extending plays or creating plays with his speed,” Muschott said. “We can use him in the run game a little more between motions and different alignments. He has such good command of what we’re trying to do on the offensive end.”

Muschott refers to the rest of the skill players as “positionless,” because of their versatility as blockers, receivers and ball carriers.

A key contributor on defense last year, Ekam Sohal is the main wingback but will get looks at different positions.

“We’ll still be true to our Wing-T standards and what we’ve been, but now, we’re able to move guys around in different spots,” Muschott said. “We’re going more positionless compared to the traditional Wing-T. We’re going to the pistol and moving guys around to better utilize their athleticism and get them in space. We have to be more dynamic, because we don’t have a Pablo Peña anymore to get us a first down on third-and-whatever.”

White was a workhorse running back for the JV two years ago his freshman year, and he’ll get the chance to take on that role in his second varsity go-around.

Senior Jonah Hernandez, junior Dario Joseph and Sohal are penciled in as key two-way producers. Hernandez will get a share of the carries at running back while leading the defense at middle linebacker. His last two seasons were cut short by injuries.

Meelad Khairzadah emerged late last year and will play at middle or outside linebacker. Sohal, whom Muschott calls the “do-everything type of guy,” is also taking on a hybrid role on 4-2-5 defense.

The secondary is where the team is least experience, but it isn’t short on athletes with the likes of Damian Hermosillo, Dario Joseph, Jaylen Santos and Randle Wright.

“We’ll still be strong up front, and we have a bunch of good skill guys, too,” Malachi Joseph said. “I see the work they’re putting in all summer. I feel like we’ll do good this year. Everyone is working hard on the field and weight room and locked in mentally. I feel like we are in a good position to compete this year.”

The Spartans don’t have to wait long to play in a competitive environment. They’ll head to intra-district Sierra for their second game of the season for a reunion with their former coach. The following week, they take on a strong upper-division Tracy team. Then, after its bye, Lathrop begins the WAC schedule with Johansen, the team that gave it the most trouble in league last season.

“The expectations are to go all the way,” Grisham said. “It gives me motivation having gone so far as the semifinals, but it just makes me want to go out with a bang. I want to make it to a section final and state. I’ll go however far it takes me.”