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Spartans grind out homecoming win over Beyer
Beyer-Lathrop football
Lathrop running back Roman Giordano (32) has his jersey tugged by Beyer’s Brock Gross (2). - photo by Wayne Thallander

SCORING SUMMARY

Beyer 0   0   0   0 — 0

Lathrop 0   14   7   6 — 34

 

Second Quarter

L — Kameron Jones 65 run (Anthony Cuellar kick), 11:46

L — Roman Giordano 9 run (Cuellar kick), 5:53

 

Third Quarter

L — Giordano 2 run (Cuellar kick), 5:50

 

Fourth Quarter

L — AJ Duenas 17 run (Cuellar kick), 6:47

L — Jimari Dove 65 interception return (kick blocked), 2:32

Homecoming at Lathrop High had it all on Friday.

A parade, a coronation, and even fireworks.

However, the crowning achievement was the Spartans' 34-0 Western Athletic Conference victory over Beyer.

"We went back to the basics," Lathrop coach Ryan Teicheira said of the satisfying win.

His team improved to 2-1 in league, 3-3 overall.

The Spartans did it with ground attack, grinding out 317 yards on 43 carries.

Kameron Jones led the way with 126 yards on nine pops. Included was his 65-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

The Patriots (0-3 WAC, 0-6) nearly scored on the ensuing kickoff. But Xavier Parker-Guerro chased down Anthony Gonzales Taylor at the Lathrop 5.

The Spartans ended the threat moments later as Sean Teu enjoyed what appeared to be a lineman's dream — an interception at midfield.

Lathrop took advantage of Beyer penalties coupled with a big run by Jones. Roman Giordano then cashed in with a 9-yard scoring run.

He scored again in the third with a short run to cap a 54-yard drive. Giordano racked up 92 yards rushing on 17 carries.

The Spartans went with a reverse in the fourth. 

"We tell our players if they see something, to let us know," said Teicheira.

As it turned out, A.J Duenas took notice of the pursuit from the Beyer defense, and had the green light to go with the play.

Duenas scored on the 17-yard end around, upping the lead, 28-0.

The Spartans defense preserved the shutout behind junior Jimari Dove, who had three interceptions including the nail-in-the-coffin pick-6.

"I told (Beyer) not to throw my way," he said.

Dove, who missed an earlier pick-6, hauled in a short wayward pass late in the game and went 65 yards for the score.

"It was great," he said of the play that gave him four interceptions for the season.

It was a great nightcap for the Spartans.