On a night of mistakes, one of Liberty County’s final miscues proved to be the final difference on the scoreboard.

The Panthers, who trailed much of the night, fell 20-19 to the McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers on Friday night at Donell Woods Stadium. The loss dropped the Panthers to 1-3 on the season while the Bucs improved to 3-1.

The Panthers led 19-18 with 4:57 to go in the game but a bad snap eluded punter Noel Best and eventually wobbled out of the end zone, giving the Bucs a safety and the lead again. Liberty’s ensuing two possessions came up empty, with the Bucs also getting a second interception from a defensive lineman to snuff out a drive.

Liberty took a 19-18 lead when Best powered in from 4 yards out with 10:42 to go, capping a drive set up when the Bucs had an errant snap on a punt attempt.

Ja’eir Roberts connected with Caheim Anderson on a 30-yard TD pass to complete Liberty’s first drive of the second half, bringing the Panthers within 18-13.

Josh Griffin ended MCA’s opening drive of the game with a 4-yard touchdown run, but the Panthers answered right back, as Aaron Brown hauled in a 41-yard scoring strike from Roberts.

But Liberty’s offense mustered only one first down the rest of the half, and the Bucs went back in front when Panthers quarterback Jack Jacobsen was hit while throwing, and the Bucs George Campbell plucked the fluttering pass out of the air, rambling 44 yards for a touchdown.

MCA marched 71 yards in 11 plays, consuming the final 4:18 of the first half as Earnest McIntosh scored from 1 yard out on the last play of the half for an 18-6 lead.

The teams combined for 22 accepted penalties, and the Panthers were called for offensive pass interference three times.

For more, return to coastalcourier.com or see the September 17 edition of the Courier.