In her first game as starting quarterback Wednesday, Lathrop’s Jaleiyah Ray ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Spartans blanked Escalon 26-0 in non-league flag football action at Bennie Gatto Field.
“We lost Tuesday, and we had to come in here and erase that,” Ray said. “Before the game, I found out I was going to be quarterback, so knew I had to step up and take that role. This was my first time as quarterback for the whole game.
“It was nerve-racking, at first. I had to warm up, get used to it and then we started making plays and scoring.”
Before Ray could take over, Marianna Coon grabbed an interception and returned it 27 yards to put the Spartans (4-2) ahead 6-0 late in the first quarter.
“It was good,” Coon said of her interception. “I was just back pedaling and I saw the ball go up in the air, saw the one on one made it over and grabbed it and ran for the pick six.”
Late in the third quarter, Lathrop’s Madilynn Nungaray snagged an interception and returned it 32 yards to the Cougars 3-yard line, being denied a score when she was pulled down by her pants. Two plays later following a penalty, Rae spotted Jayla Seabron with a 16-yard touchdown pass for a 20-0 Spartans lead.
“I took the opportunity to reach up and grab it,” Nungaray said. “I ran as fast as I could.”
Rae scored two more touchdowns on runs of 7 and 9 yards as well as making two interceptions and returning them for a combined 53 yards.
“Coach Reggie Thompson did a great job of handling the defense and putting the girls in the right positions,” Lathrop coach Randy Baltazar said. “Our defensive girls were able to pay attention and execute.
“Marianna (Coon) with the pick six and Maddie (Nungaray) pulling flags on anything that came her way.”
Rae was 10 of 25 passing for 76 yards and rushed six times for 33 yards. Nungaray had a team-high nine pulls with four apiece for Isabella Espinoza and Arlette Quiroz and three each for Faith Allen, Aaliyah Thompson and Coon.
The Spartans held the Cougars (3-5) to 108 total yards.
Lathrop opens Western Athletic Conference play Tuesday at Pacheco at 6:15 p.m.
