In a theme that has persisted through the first five weeks of the season, self-inflicted wounds proved to be the downfall for the Vicksburg Gators as they fell to Germantown 30-7 Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

Another strong showing by the Gators’ defense was not enough to overcome a night full of struggles for the offense and special teams in the Region 2-5A opener.

Germantown (2-3, 1-0 Region 2-5A) scored 30 points while only gaining 204 yards of offense thanks to four Vicksburg turnovers — including three in the first half — and 14 penalties committed by the Vicksburg (0-5, 0-1) offense and special teams.

The Gators’ drive that began with 7:34 left in the second quarter was symbolic of the issues that plagued them throughout the night, as a holding penalty on the kickoff forced them to start at their own 7-yard line. They managed to get to the 50-yard line before a false start and two holding penalties backed them all the way to their own 27, where they faced a third-and-27. Quarterback Joe Johnson was able to gain 17 yards on third down, but facing a fourth-and-10 from its own 44, Vicksburg elected to punt. The punt snap was then fumbled and recovered by Germantown at the Vicksburg 32.

The Mavericks connected on a 28-yard field goal on the ensuing drive to go up 17-7 with 1:07 left in the first half.

“A lot of effort, a lot of heart,” Vicksburg coach Lorenzo Breland said of what he saw from his team. “We caught some tough breaks.”

Germantown took the lead with 6:20 left in the first quarter when Zach Wright picked off Johnson at the 12-yard line and walked untouched into the end zone.

The Gators answered on the ensuing kickoff when Tyrese Wolfe caught the ball at the 10-yard line and broke free for a 90-yard touchdown. The kickoff return would prove to be the Gators’ only score of the night and the lone highlight for a special teams unit that committed three penalties on kickoffs, fumbled three punt snaps —including one that was recovered by Germantown — and had a field goal blocked after a high snap.

“If I knew I would fix it,” Breland said of the cause of the turnovers and penalties that have plagued his team so far this season.

The Mavericks scored their second touchdown of the night on an 8-yard pass from Cade Pinnix to Jack Hunter Johnson with 7:44 left in the second quarter after a fumble by Vicksburg’s Malik Shelley gave Germantown the ball at the 7-yard line.

Whereas special teams miscues plagued Vicksburg throughout the night, the kicking game was a strength for Germantown. Johnny Moss connected on field goals of 28, 31 and 35 yards.

Overall, Vicksburg was held to only 162 yards of offense while committing 11 offensive penalties for 95 yards. Johnson finished the game with 102 yards on 8-for-13 passing, and also added 60 rushing yards.