Oakdale High’s football team welcomed Lathrop’s varsity to The Corral for the first time Friday.

The Spartans’ going-away present was a 63-14 loss.

To their credit, the third-year varsity Spartans, who are in their second season in the Valley Oak League, hung tough in the early going.

On the third play of the game, quarterback Elijah Cash hit Ricky Chavez for a 77-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead just 1 minute, 25 seconds in. The Mustangs (3-0, 6-0 overall) countered with 21 straight points in the next 8 minutes, but Cash kept Lathrop (0-3, 1-5) in the game with a TD toss to eight end Austin Plunk.

But Oakdale scored in every possession in the first half and took a 49-14 lead into halftime. The entire second half went quickly with a running clock.

Ross Downum provided some of the few defensive highlights for Lathrop, sacking quarterback Spencer Thomas twice.

Lathrop next hosts Weston Ranch next Friday.

Oakdale Leader reporter Ike Dodson contributed to this report.