Lathrop trailed by two scores with 4 minutes remaining but still gave itself a chance in the final seconds of its Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinal Monday with visiting fifth seed Pioneer.
Ja’Leiyah Ray’s desperation heave fell incomplete at about the Patriots 5-yard line as time expired, and the No. 4 Spartans fell short, 18-12.
“I’m very proud,” Ray said. “We were all getting banged up, but we still have the heart. We just had to keep fighting for us to be able to win. We were down two touchdowns, we got one and made it close. We just tried our best.”
The loss marks the end of an era. The remarkable Ray, the Lathrop’s do-it-all two-way standout, played the final game of her four-year varsity career that includes two Western Athletic Conference championships and the program’s first postseason wins.
Center/linebacker Tianna Gonzalez and Aaliyah Thompson are the other trailblazers who were freshman when coach Randy Baltazar started the fledgling program in 2023.
The Spartans (21-4) are losing 10 seniors in all.
“That was hard,” Baltazar said of having to bid his seniors farewell after the game. “Those girls are a big reason we are where we’re at. Hopefully, the younger girls got their feet we and they learn from this and continue to grow.”
Pioneer (21-4-1) just had too many weapons, most notably elusive sophomore quarterback Kenzie Quiogue. She completed 14 of 23 for 158 yards and two touchdowns and was sacked just once — by Ayeli Amezcua — while running for 74 yards on 16 attempts.
“They gave us some problems because they had the two blockers, and she was shifty,” Baltazar said of Quiogue. She made all the right moves and threw the ball in spots where her offensive players can go up and get it.
“They were kind of a tall, long team, too, and they were able to go up and get the 50-50 balls.”
Caroline Elfen had two short-yardage touchdowns, including a 1-yard score on fourth down that pushed the Patriots ahead 18-6 with 4:05 to go. Yulipza Zavala Bermudez contributed a 13-yard touchdown reception. Eliot Willer caught seven passes for 83 yards.
Ray had a hand in both of Lathrop’s TDs. She answered Pioneer’s score on the opening drive with an 8-yard scamper, finishing with 41 yards on 10 carries.
Lathrop went with two sophomore quarterbacks in Aviahna Calderon (1-of-3 passing, 19 yards) and Alexia Garcia (3-of-8, 28 yards; 22 rushing yards) in the first three-plus quarters. They made way for Ray on the final two drives.
After Pioneer widened its lead to two scores, Ray led the Spartans downfield with key connections with fellow senior Morgann Hegler, Madilynn Nungaray (three receptions, 41 yards) and Faith Allen (35 yards, three touches). The series ended with Ray’s 1-yard touchdown toss to Hegler with 1:12 left.
Lathrop opted for an all-or-nothing onside kick soon after, but Ray’s deep ball to Hegler was deflected.
That had Pioneer in position to put it away with the ball on the Lathrop 20. The Spartans defense held, getting a fourth-down stop and a loss of 3 on Isabella Espinoza’s clutch flag pull at the 6-yard line with 46 seconds remaining.
Two scrambles from Ray and a 14-yard toss to Faith Allen had Lathrop near midfield with time winding down, setting up the Hail Mary on the final play of the game.
Sareah Reed led the defense with nine flag pulls, and Marianna Coon followed with six, including two for losses. Both are seniors.
“It’s sad, you know?” Ray said. “Playing all four years, growing up with these people, growing up with these girls and having Baltazar for my coach — it’s bittersweet. We made our way up every year and got better and better. It just got cut short.”
Pioneer will travel to Sacramento on Wednesday to face top-seeded Christian Brothers.
Christian Brothers 47, Sierra 7
Eighth-seeded Sierra (14-9) could not keep up with the defending champion Falcons (19-5).
Mia Aguirre (seven carries, 28 yards) scored the Timberwolves’ lone touchdown. She also had two sacks on defense. Kayla Amarante contributed two catches for 36 yards and a team-high eight flag pulls.
