Hawks break in new field with shutout victory
GALT — The Liberty Ranch High football team kicked off its first game of the season against Johnson Warriors on Friday night — but first, the Hawks dedicated their brand-new, oncampus stadium with a ribbon-cutting by principal Joe Saramago.
Although the Warriors won the coin toss, the host Hawks posted a 47-0 win. Liberty Ranch (1-0) led 40-0 at halftime.
The Warriors’ Mateo Fragata of the Warriors returned the ball and was stopped at the 25 yard lineand four plays later the Warriors punted. It was not their last three-and-out. The Hawks’ defense kept Warriors from advancing to first down for the majority of the first quarter.
The Hawks’ first drive culminated in running back Gabriel Nino scoring the first of his three touchdowns on a 3-yard run.
Johnson (1-0) was stopped at the 20yard line after receiving the punt, still unable to obtain a first down due to the Hawks’ solid defense. That led to the Warriors punting the ball again,
though a fumble by Nino gave it back a few minutes later with the Warriors’ backs against their own goal line.
After numerous incomplete passes by Jaylon Mark, the Warriors were at fourth down and again ended up punting the ball.
The Hawks scored another touchdown with another rush into the end zone by Nino, leaving the score at the end of the first quarter at 14-0, on a 25-yard run.
The second quarter proved to be a dominating quarter for the Hawks. Quarterback Matthew Hopper rushed into the end zone, a 23-yard run. After an incomplete field goal attempt, Liberty Ranch led 200.
The Warriors didn’t hold on to the ball for very long after receiving the punt and the Hawks gained control quickly after.
Hopper ran in for another touch down from the 10 yard line, but it didn’t count due to a holding penalty, moving the Hawks back. But the penalty didn’t hurt the Hawks all that much. A 20-yard pass from Hooper to Joseph Giordano lead to a touchdown for the Hawks for a 27-0.
Shortly after the Warriors received the ball, the Hawks recovered an incomplete snap that led to another touchdown. Nino scored his final touchdown on a 29-yard run that made it 34-0.
A running clock was used in the second half.
By the fourth quarter, Warriors were putting up more of a fight. But Liberty Ranch led 40-0 after a Jonathan Thomas run.
Rosalio Lopez of the scored the last touchdown for the Hawks on fourth down on a 20yard run.
Although happy with the win, Liberty Ranch head coach Anthony Linebaugh feels some improvement is needed.
“Three (improvements) — offense, defense and special teams,” Linebaugh said.