Justin Muschott would have preferred to get his first win as Lathrop coach last week.

It just so happened to come Friday at the expense of a good friend he succeeded, and on the campus where he got his start coaching high school as an assistant.

His Spartans washed off the stink of their frustrating zero-week defeat by rolling past homecoming celebrant Sierra, 33-14.

They opened with a 23-6 loss at Golden Valley, which forced five turnovers to overcome deficits in offensive yards and time of possession.

On Friday, Lathrop (1-1) left little doubt, showcasing its physical front on both sides of scrimmage and versatile athletes. Jayden White scored three short-yardage touchdowns, while Jayden Santos and Ekam Santos each collected more than 100 scrimmage yards. Second-year junior quarterback D.J. Reyno completed two TD passes.

Muschott wanted this one to be more about his players than any bragging rights he may have over Sierra coach Ryan Teicheira, who coached Lathrop the past five season. Muschott served as Teicheira’s defensive coordinator, and his brother, Jay, is a varsity assistant for Sierra.

“This may seem poetic, but this isn’t a movie, or anything like that,” Justin Muschott said. “it’s just the way the schedule worked out, you know? We did not do things well last week, and I was proud of the way the guys came back. They had a great week of practice.

“But as far as the story lines — Sierra versus Lathrop, Muschott versus Teicheira — it wasn’t about all that this week. The guys obviously wanted to get the win here, there’s a lot of emotions, but I think everybody’s been respectful and doing things the right way.”

Lathrop outgained the Timberwolves 431-238, while seizing control in the second half after leading 19-14 lead at halftime.

With White (17 rushes, 59 yards) providing the tough yards between the tackle, Santos (15 carries, 106 yards; two receptions, 19 yards) and Sohal (four rushes, 62 yards; 75-yard TD reception) flashed their game-breaking speed.

Reyno completed seven of 10 passes for 195 yards and an interception. On the Spartans’ final offensive play, Reyno hit Dario Joseph on a short pass on fourth-and-5, and the junior receiver separated from a cornerback with a stiff-arm and dashed 50 yards to the end zone.

“We’re very dangerous,” Santos said. We have weapons all over the field.”

Santos secure the victory on defense with an interception late in the fourth quarter.

Lathrop’s defensive front dominated, allowing just 36 rushing yards, while coming up with four sacks — 2.5 from defensive end Joshua Talalele, who also blocked a field goal. Josiah Brechtel, Samari Sumpter, and Malachi Joseph were also key for the Spartans’ defensive line.

“We need to take advantage of the opportunities presented,” Teicheira said. “We gotta get better mentally. They did a great job up front with the physical part of it, which is in their wheelhouse, and we didn’t match that intensity.”

Despite the struggles in the running game, the Timberwolves found ways to stay in the hunt.

Second-year junior quarterback Jaysen Martinez (11 of 18, 202 yards) spotted a wide-open Blama Kamara down the right sideline for an 83-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. Damian Densmore’s conversion run pushed Sierra ahead, 8-7 with 2:11 left. The scoring sequence was set up by an interception by Kian Mejia.

That was Sierra’s only lead.

Martinez later scrambled 17 yards for the Timberwolves’ other touchdown with 45 seconds to go in the first half, closing them in, 19-14.

Kamara led Sierra with 116 receiving yards on three catches. D.J. Shepherd ran for 20 yards and received 55.

“In the build-up this week, I told the guys, yeah, (Lathrop) is where I came, but this isn’t for me. It’s about the guys. It’s about the kids. It’s about the team that they want to be. We tried to discredit some of the hoopla that was in it.

“The kids are buying in and have been great, but I wish they can see the same potential that we see in them. It’s just two games in. We have a lot to figure out. That’s just the growing pains.”

Sierra heads to struggling Modesto next week, while Lathrop hosts a tough Tracy team.