For a second week in a row, the turnover bug plagued the Zephyrs football team leading to their downfall at the hands of Liberty last week.

The Zephs committed four turnovers in the game, all of them coming in the first half. And just like last week’s game, the Zephs were victimized early, with interceptions halting drives on their first three possessions.

The Hurricanes were able to convert each of those turnovers into scores, the first of which was a pick six by cornerback Justin Haynes. They rode that wave of Whitehall miscues to a 42-7 win at Frank Banko Field, evening the Zephs record at 2-2.

The Zephs also turned the ball over on downs on three of their next four drives following those three turnovers.

It was the first time Liberty defeated Whitehall in a regular season game in four years. (They defeated the Zephs in the Eastern Conference 4A Championship Game in 2011, after losing to Whitehall 35-12 in week four of that season.)

Perhaps Liberty came into the game with a little added incentive given the Zephyrs dominance the last few years, but even though the Zephs were moving the ball against the ‘Canes, they hurt themselves with those turnovers, with two of those picks coming inside the 35-yard line.

The Zephyrs have now committed eight turnovers in two games. It’s something that’s prevented them from capitalizing on some long drives that they’ve put together over those eight quarters.

“It’s ridiculous,” said head coach Brian Gilbert. “So we got to figure out what’s going on and stop it.

“I just told these guys, myself and them, we have to look ourselves in the mirror and make sure that this doesn’t happen again. That’s not playoff football.”

Quarterback Doug Erney, a three-year starter for the ‘Canes, made the Zephs pay for each of those mistakes. He dissected their defense with surgical precision, finishing the game 9-of-12 for 154 yards and three TDs. He also ran the ball for 69 yards, including a score.

The biggest dagger didn’t come on a turnover, but on an answer to a Zephyr touchdown that trimmed the ‘Canes lead to 21-7 midway through the second quarter.

Quarterback Gianni Sinatore marched the Zephs down to the ‘Canes 9-yard line after two big pass plays, the first to Devin Castro covering 19 yards, the second to Desmond Boykin for 24 yards. Once at the nine, Sinatore dropped back to pass, but pulled the ball down after he didn’t like what he saw. He then rolled left and found Ryan Klaugh in the end zone for the touchdown, putting the Zephs on the board.

However, Erney followed with a 10-play, 69-yard drive that effectively doused any momentum the Zephs had. That drive was capped by a nine-yard run by Erney

The ‘Canes were also aided by the running of Nasir Legree who finished with 109 yards on 16 carries. Along with Erney’s arm, Liberty’s ground game was another potent weapon, especially in the second half as they racked up 226 yards on the ground.

For Whitehall, Klaugh’s reception in the end zone would be the only time they scored. Once again, Sinatore was able to get the ball to a number of different receivers, but it was their inability to convert on both third and fourth downs that ultimately helped seal their fate.

Sinatore finsished the game 16-31 for 177 yards and a TD. Boykin, the Zephs leading receiver had 10 catches for 85 yards.

Defensively, the Zephs were led by Jackson Buskirk who led the team with eight tackles, while Phil Reeves followed with five.

Gilbert didn’t take any solace in the fact that they were able to rack up 323 total yards against the ‘Canes.

“There definitely were some positives, but when you lose 42-7 it’s hard to find too much positives,” said Gilbert.

“We have to regroup. We have to look at the film and see what we can do better.”