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First-place Spartans vanquish Central Valley
Central Valley-Lathrop flag football
Lathrop’s Morgann Hegler (9) celebrates after her second interception. - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL

With signal caller Avaihna Calderon directing the offense and Aayilah Thompson and Morgann Hegler leading the defense, host Lathrop rolled to a 26-6 thumping of Central Valley in Western Athletic Conference flag football action on Wednesday night at Bennie Gatto Field.

“It feels good,” Spartans coach Randy Baltazar said. “It feels good that the girls are soaking up the mental side of the game and not just the physical side of the game. Avi (Calderon) is only a sophomore, and she is reading the defenses well. She is understanding where the holes are and the pockets are. We discuss things and then get the ball into our playmakers’ hands – Morgann (Hegler) and Faith (Allen) and have them do everything else.

“We’re very blessed to have that type of talent, but there are other girls that can get it done too. If one or both of them are covered, Aaliyah (Thompson), Sareah (Reed) and “T” (Tianna Gonzalez), they can get it done too.”

Central Valley-Lathrop flag football
Following a lateral from Aaliyah Thompson (12), Lathrop’s Sareah Reed (7) runs away from Central Valley’s Divina Velazquez and Analia Diaz (5) for a touchdown. - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL

Calderon was 12 of 20 passing for 104 yards with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tianna Gonzalez (two receptions, 24 yards) and an 18-yard scoring pass Jaylah Seabron (two receptions, 26 yards) and to give Lathrop (6-0 WAC, 11-2 overall) a 13-0 lead by the first play of the second period. Calderon was credited with one more touchdown in the fourth period on a 5-yard hook and lateral first to Thompson and then to Reed for the score.

“I felt very confident and very excited to lead the team,” Calderon said. “And it was great to get the win.”

In addition to the hook and lateral, the Spartans added another score in the second half when Faith Allen (four carries, 86 yards; four receptions, 34 yards) exploded on a 65-yard touchdown run.

Central Valley-Lathrop flag football
Lathrop’s Sareah Reed (7) and Aaliyah Thompson each pull a flag from Central Valley’s Ayleen Apreza (1). - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL

Hegler nabbed a pair of interceptions.

“After listening to coach I knew what to look for,” Hegler said. “And I did my job for the team.”

Thompson led Lathrop defense with seven pulls. Madilynn Nungaray and Reed added five pulls apiece and Marianna Coon three. Allen capped the day with an interception.

“I just knew I had to be on the outside and turn everything in.” Thompson said.

Central Valley (3-3, 4-11) scored late in the first half on a 5-yard run by Ayleen Apreza.

The Spartans travel to Modesto on Monday at 6:15 p.m. to face Beyer.