AUSTIN (KXAN) — Leander took advantage of shoddy special teams by Hendrickson to pull off a 26-point come-from-behind victory 41-40 on Thursday at Bible Memorial Stadium.

The Lions recovered two muffed kick returns by the Hawks and cashed them in for touchdowns, the latter of the two was the go-ahead score with 5:23 left in the game. Lions quarterback Logan Mitchell, who accounted for six touchdowns on the night, zipped a pass to Joseph Marro for a 7-yard score and the ensuing PAT gave the Lions the lead and they hung on for the win.

Mitchell ran for four touchdowns and threw for two. Both of the passing touchdowns came in the fourth quarter with the first on a wide receiver screen that Zane Wooldridge turned into a 79-yard score with 7:23 left. Leander then hit a high-arcing kick toward the sideline that the Hawks mishandled, allowing the Lions to get the ball back with a short field.

The first kick Hendrickson muffed came with 1:50 left in the second quarter. Mitchell scored about 30 seconds later on a 27-yard run to pull the Lions with two scores, 33-20. With 2:19 left in the first half, Hendrickson built a 33-7 lead after quarterback Ke’ontae Fowler found a wide-open Jayden Smith for a 60-yard touchdown.

It looked like the Hawks were going to run away with the win, but mistakes helped keep the Lions in the game, and the Lions took full advantage of them.

Leander (2-6, 1-4 5A-District 11) won its first game since its season opener Aug. 25 when they beat Pflugerville 48-28. They’ll play Cedar Park at home next week. Hendrickson (3-5, 1-4) lost its fourth consecutive game and will take on East View next week.

Game log

Final: Leander 41, Hendrickson 40. The Lions complete an incredible 26-point comeback and hand the Hawks their second consecutive 1-point loss. Lions QB Logan Mitchell had a career night with two passing touchdowns and four rushing scores.

3:49 4Q: Leander’s defense comes through in the clutch and stops Hendrickson on fourth down to get the ball back. The Lions take over on the Hawks’ 39-yard line and can ice the game on this drive.

5:23 4Q: TOUCHDOWN LEANDER: The Lions take the lead! Mitchell finds Joseph Marro over the middle for a 7-yard touchdown. PAT good. Lions 41, Hawks 40

7:21 4Q: Hendrickson muffs another kickoff and the Lions recover it. Holy cow! Leander gets it back on the Hawks’ 30-yard line and this game has been flipped on its head.

7:23 4Q: TOUCHDOWN LEANDER: The Lions immediately convert the turnover on a 79-yard catch-and-run by Zane Wooldridge on a wide receiver screen. The big play the Lions needed to make it a one-score game. Wow. PAT good. Hawks 40, Lions 34

8:01 4Q: Fowler can’t handle a low snap and the Lions jump on it to get the ball back. Hendrickson had it 1st-and-goal on the 8-yard line but coughed it up.

10:32 4Q: On 4th-and-7, Mitchell’s pass falls incomplete and the Lions turn it over on downs. Hendrickson will take over on its own 36-yard line.

End 3Q: Hendrickson 40, Leander 27. The Lions have the ball on the Hawks’ 37-yard line to start the 4Q

2:51 3Q: TOUCHDOWN HENDRICKSON: Mosley powers 29 yards for a score to cap a 95-yard drive by the Hawks. PAT good. Hawks 40, Lions 27

5:00 3Q: Hendrickson stops Leander on 4th-and-short and the Hawks take over on their own 5-yard line. The Lions were knocking on the door to potentially take the lead and the Hawks weren’t having any of it

7:54 3Q: Leander’s Jacob Harris picks off Fowler and the Lions take over on their own 39-yard line and can take the lead with a touchdown and PAT on this drive

9:31 3Q: TOUCHDOWN LEANDER: Mitchell with another 1-yard scoring run and the Lions are back in the ballgame. It’s his fourth rushing touchdown of the game. PAT good. Hawks 33, Lions 27

Halftime: Hendrickson 33, Leander 20. The Lions scored twice late in the half to get them within a couple of scores after it looked like the Hawks were about to run away with the game.

1:10 2Q: TOUCHDOWN LEANDER: Mitchell keeps it on the zone read play and he scampers 27 yards for a touchdown to convert the Hawks’ kickoff return mistake. 2-point try no good. Hawks 33, Lions 20

1:50 2Q: The Lions get a huge break and recover the kickoff after the Hendrickson returner muffs the kick. The Lions regain possession on the Hawks’ 30-yard line. Oh my goodness.

1:54 2Q: TOUCHDOWN LEANDER: Mitchell gets behind the offensive line and forces the ball in the end zone from a yard out. PAT good. Hawks 33, Lions 14

2:19 2Q: TOUCHDOWN HENDRICKSON: Jayden Smith wasn’t just open, he was wide open behind the Leander defense. Fowler makes him wait a little bit with the throw, but Smith grabs it and takes it 60 yards for a touchdown. PAT blocked. Hawks 33, Lions 7

5:27 2Q: TOUCHDOWN HENDRICKSON: Fowler keeps it on the option run and dashes 39 yards for a touchdown. He took it straight up the middle and outran the Leander defenders. PAT good. Hawks 27, Lions 7

7:16 2Q: Hendrickson perfectly executes an onside kick and the Hawks recover on the Leander 45-yard line.

7:18 2Q: TOUCHDOWN HENDRICKSON: Distefano catches another TD pass, this one on a route toward the back corner of the end zone from Fowler for a 3-yard score. PAT good. Hawks 20, Lions 7

10:48 2Q: TOUCHDOWN HENDRICKSON: Ke’ontae Folwer throws his sixth touchdown pass of the season, this one a 13-yard toss to Spencer Distefano. PAT good. Hawks 13, Lions 7

End 1Q: Leander 7, Hendrickson 6. The Hawks will have it 2nd-and-5 from the Lions’ 29-yard line to start the 2Q. Both teams scored on their opening drives of the game.

3:16 1Q: TOUCHDOWN LEANDER: Mitchell calls his own number again and barrels through a couple of defenders for an 8-yard touchdown. PAT good. Lions 7, Hawks 6

3:57 1Q: QB Logan Mitchell keeps it on the option run on 4th-and-3 and gets about 5 yards to keep the Lions’ drive alive.

7:42 1Q: TOUCHDOWN HENDRICKSON: Sophomore running back Brandon Mosley caps a 9-play, 68-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. PAT missed. Hawks 6, Lions 0

12:00 1Q: Leander wins the opening coin toss and they will defer its option to the second half, so Hendrickson will receive to start the game