More snaps would have been better for Mexico on Friday.

The Bulldogs were shut out for the second time this season and lost to North Central Missouri Conference foe Hannibal for the eighth straight time in a 40-0 loss in Hannibal. The Class 4 No. 4 Pirates finished with 443 total offensive yards while Mexico (2-3) only had 76 yards of total offense.

Head coach Steve Haag said little things have to be done well against high-quality teams like Hannibal (3-2), who are a tough challenge every season. He said the Bulldog defense couldn’t get off the field while the offense didn’t move the ball well, highlighted by 41 yards on three receptions by Charlie Fisher.

“We played a pretty good first quarter, forcing them to snap the football more, and we weren’t giving up big plays,” Haag said. “When we got to the second quarter, we gave up two big pass plays. I don’t think we played good and smart football on those busted plays.”

Giving up long touchdown plays “takes the wind out of your sails” and creates too much to overcome since Mexico trailed 26-0 at halftime. Hannibal scored 20 points in the second quarter.

Haag said Hannibal doesn’t have Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams anymore but are still tough. Quarterback Waylon Anders threw four touchdown passes and 129 yards on 8-for-12 passing while running for 67 yards on nine carries. Michael Ferreira rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.

“You can do a lot more when you have a Aneyas Williams,” Haag said. “I’m disappointed in the little mental things. I thought we were physical, and I don’t think we were afraid. There’s just some mental things we have to do right if we’re going to beat good football teams like this.”

Fulton (0-5) will be “fired up” and expects to give Mexico a hard time, Haag said, because the Hornets want the Highway 54 sign trophy as much as the Bulldogs. Mexico hopes for their 13th straight Highway 54 Bowl game victory at 7 p.m. Friday at home against its North Central Missouri Conference rival.

Haag said the Bulldogs need to avoid the mistakes from Hannibal in their long-term goal to get better. That feeds into the general idea of actually correcting the issues that are focused on, which deals more with the mental aspect.

“The more you snap the football, there is a better possibility of something happening like a fumble,” Haag said. “When you start giving off big plays, that’s when it gets a little tough.”