Lathrop’s road-weary flag football team ended its long stretch of away games to start the season on Wednesday with a 46-0 shellacking of Central Valley in Ceres.

The Spartans (5-1 Western Athletic Conference, 10-2 overall) will play their long-awaited home opener Monday against Beyer at their revamped stadium.

Faith Butler highlighted the shutout against the Hawks (3-3, 8-7) with an interception return for a touchdown. She collected nine tackles.

Angelique Gonzalez pulled 10 flags, two for sacks and one for a loss. Jaleiyah Ray added two interceptions, and Dayanna Martinez pitched in with one.

Luz DeLuna led the offense with five touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and four completions on point-after tries. She connected on 13 of 22 passes for 154 yards.

Tianna Gonzalez (four receptions, 41 yards) was on the receiving end of two of those touchdowns. Faith Allen (76 total yards) and Aaliyah Thompson (four receptions, 46 yards) each had a receiving TD. Ray contributed 89 yards on eight carries and 26 yards on two receptions.

CROSS COUNTRY

Trans Valley League meet

In Sonora, Lucas de Vera paced to a seventh-place finish in 18 minutes, 17 seconds, as Ripon ended up in second place behind Hughson in varsity boys.

Fellow Indian Miguel Acosta-Pearson came in 11th in 18:40 and was followed by 14th-place Moses Gomez, 16th-place Matteo de Vera and 17th place Landen Morse. Matijs Zylstra took 13th for fourth-place Ripon Christian.

In the varsity girls race, Ripon sophomore Sophia Jung placed ninth in 22:10, while freshman Elizabeth Rich was 13th in 23:12 for Ripon Christian.

Ripon’s JV boys and girls narrowly took second to Hughson.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Lathrop 3, Central Valley 0

The Spartans (4-0 WAC, 8-5 overall) made quick work of visiting Central Valley (1-4, 3-12), 25-8, 25-9, 25-14.

Setter Ayden Petroff amassed eight service aces to go with 22 assists. Erin Chunn added nine kills, four aces and four digs. Siliana Fa’ataualofa chipped in seven kills, Justine Mabutas registered eight digs and two aces, while Jadore Dixon had seven digs and four aces.

JV girls volleyball

Lathrop 2, Central Valley 0

Lathrop coasted to the 25-13, 25-17 win.

Alexza Bringas led the attack with 11 assists. Andrea Lemus turned in four kills and four digs, and Audrina Fisher tallied two kills, three digs and two aces.

JV flag football

Lathrop 21, Central Valley 12

Aviahna Calderon completed nine of 12 passes for 119 yards, two touchdowns, two PATs and an interception.

Ailyn Alcaraz (three catches, 48 yards) and Madlynn Narungary (five catches, 70 yards) scored one touchdown apiece. The defense was spearheaded by Kathryn Guerrero (five tackles, interception) and Jacqueline Avalos (five tackles, sack).

Frosh girls volleyball

Lathrop 2, Central Valley 1

The Spartans held on for the 25-13, 20-25, 15-10 victory.

Juliet Tara tallied 16 assists and eight aces. Zakia Booker produced five kills, five digs and two aces. Lanayah Denson added six kills and two aces, and Arianna Sheel picked up five digs.