The Liberty Ranch football team opened the season with a win on Friday, a 13-9 defensive slog against River City out of West Sacramento that saw the Hawks stop a drive at their own 20-yard line in the waning seconds of the game.
Backed up on its own end zone with the ball and a 13-7 lead, Liberty Ranch opted to take the safety and kickoff. River City responded with a return to the Hawks’ 35, with 15 added on for a face mask penalty.
Four passes later, the defense held.
“We go over scenarios, and one of the scenarios we go over is the last play of the half, of the game,” Liberty Ranch coach Anthony Linebaugh said. “And we have an adjustment to our defense where we prepare, so it was something we’ve gone over.”
Ibn Frazier got Liberty Ranch on the board at the end of the first drive, with a long run followed by a plunge into the end zone from the 4-yard line. Frazier and Kamil Jones had several long runs in the game.
When later Hawk drives stalled, kicker Devin Hardaway took over, nailing a 25-yarder and a 45-yarder that barely cleared the crossbar.
Hardaway also had an interception on defense.