One yard.

That was all that the Cordova High School football needed against Liberty Ranch in last Friday’s Sierra Valley Conference showdown at Warriors Stadium. But that yard didn’t come to pass for the Lancers, who lost a heart-breaking 7-6 game to the Hawks.

Going into its SVC finale at rival Rosemont tonight, Friday, Cordova (3-1, 6-3) is now in a three-tie for first place in the conference with Liberty Ranch (3-1, 7-2) and El Dorado (3-1, 7-2), which beat Galt 42-15 in their meeting in Placerville, also last Friday. Should all three win tonight, Friday – along with Cordova’s game, Liberty Ranch plays Galt and El Dorado entertains Union Mine – Cordova, Liberty Ranch and El Dorado would wind up as tri-champions.

On its final offensive drive in the fourth quarter and six seconds remaining, Cordova marched to the Liberty Ranch 1- yard line. But the ball was fumbled that led to Liberty Ranch recovering and preserved the win.

“Big disappointment,” said Cordova head coach Darren Nill.”

Prior to the play, the Lancers thought they had crossed the plane of the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run. But the ball was spotted at the Hawks’ 1-yard line.

“We used a power blast to get to the three,” said Nill of the play he and his coaches and players thought crossed the plane for a touchdown. “We thought it was in but the referees didn’t.”

A double-reverse pass from Lancer quarterback Xavier Johnson to Deante McCullough earlier in the drive led to the Lancers moving the chains and into Hawk territory.

Cordova had another chance to record points on an offensive drive earlier in the final quarter. But a fumble at the Liberty Ranch 18-yard line led to another Lancer turnover. Another offensive in the second half was also shot down by the Hawks’ defense when middle linebacker Gabe Becerra intercepted a Johnson pass at the Hawks’ 30.

The Lancers’ only touchdown in the game was toward the end of the quarter before their final offensive drive. Running back Kelechi Njoku scored on a 20-yard touchdown. Cordova opted for the 2-point conversion, a pass, but fell short.

Liberty Ranch scored its only touchdown that was set up on a fake punt in the second quarter. The ball sitting at the 2-yard line, Hawks running back Jimmy Navarro scored. Along with the extra-point, the Hawks led 7-0.

Both teams were played in ankle deep mud at the stadium, which has natural grass. The field was in its chunky state after rainstorms hit the region toward the end of last week. Nill wasn’t shy with his words on the field conditions.

“We put 53 points on Union Mine in the rain (an SVC game last month),” Nill said. “Not the rain, it was the three inches of mud. That field was the worst that I’ve ever seen. I was in hiking boots, and the mud, at one point, (went) over the top of my boot. It was just a disgusting place to play football.”

But Nill gives Hawks head coach Anthony Linebaugh, his assistant coaches and players all the credit for coming up with the big plays at the right time.

“I don’t want to take anything away from those guys,” Nill said. “They are a really good team. It was a vicious counter-punching (game).”

Case in point: Liberty Ranch had 13 third downs, but converted only one.

“My defense was playing outrageous,” Nill said.

McCullough rushed 24 times for 138 yards for the Lancers. Johnson completed 7-of-17 passes for 74 yards.

On defense, Cordova linebacker Jason Johnson had 10 tackles in the game. Defensive tackle Zariahn Zimmer and defensive back Terrill Johnson had nine each.

See elsewhere in the Sports section for another story on the Lancers’ quest to win their first football league title in 25 years.