Early mistakes haunt Hawks in second loss

Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune

Liberty’s Shane Williams makes the catch to score a second half touchdown. He caught four passes for 110 yards with two touchdowns.

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MENDOTA — The Liberty Hawks football team staked the Mendota Aztecs to a 13-0 lead without scoring an offensive touchdown, and came about 45 yards short in a comeback bid in a 27-21 loss to the Mendota Aztecs on Friday.

For the second straight game, the Hawks out gained their opponents, this time 278-166. The Hawks 5.6 yards per play while Mendota averaged three yards per play.

But, the Aztecs got a punt return and an interception return for touchdowns in the first half before the offense could get going.