NDL: S29W15 - UTEP (45) at Liberty (41)
Liberty goes up in FlamesLiberty Fails to secure C-USA
Article By: Conference Championship Game Recap: UTEP vs. Liberty
Date: September 15, 2024
In an electrifying showdown that captivated fans from start to finish, the UTEP Miners faced off against the Liberty Flames in the Conference Championship game. The clash between these two formidable teams lived up to its billing, delivering a memorable spectacle of college football.
First Half:
The game kicked off with high intensity as both teams came out with a clear strategy. Liberty, playing on their home turf, aimed to leverage their dynamic offense, while UTEP was determined to assert their defensive prowess.
Liberty struck first, with quarterback Kaidon Salter orchestrating a masterful drive. His precision passing and effective play-action set up the Flames down inside the redzone. Utep defense stepped up and held Liberty to only a field goal. UTEP looked to respond with a score of their own, but the Flames secondary picks off Cade McConnell early in the drive and A'Khori Jones returns it 28-yds to put the Flames up 10-0. Utep battles back on their next drive with a quick strike to Emari White and to give some life to the Miners offense.
The rest of the first half saw both teams trading possessions, with strong offensive drives from both sides. Liberty's offense was impressive on the ground once again, when Quinton Cooley helped set up Nick Brown on a 21-yd FG to give them a 13-7 lead. UTEP’s offense picked up steam in the passing game, when Cad McConnell found Trey Goodman for an 83-yd TD pass to give them their first lead of the game. The Miners defense seemed to struggle to get stops up until they forced a fumble and scored 85-yds out. It seemed the momentum has shifted and the Flames looked to bounce back, and that's when Kaidon Salter found Treon Sibley in the endzone right before the half to cut the score to 21-20.
Second Half:
The second half began with renewed vigor from both teams. Utep quickly took control, with McConnell leading the offense down the field and finishing off the drive on a 2-yd TD pass to Trey Goodman. Liberty offense came out of the half not looking the same, with a crucial mistake inside their 20-yard line, Kaidon Salter fumbles the ball and gets picked up by Kory Chapman for his 2nd scoop and score of the game. This is when Liberty looked to be in trouble, down 35-20 early in the 3rd quarter. Liberty wasn't done, Quinton Cooley found a whole and burst through it for a 50-yd TD run to keep the Flames in the game.
However, the Miners were not to be outdone. McConnell, displaying poise, led a stunning drive, and helped set them up for a 28-yd FG to push the lead to 38-27. Quinton Cooley put the team on his back in the second half, when he found the endzone a second time to make it a 3-point deficit. With under 4 minutes to go, McConnell felt some pressure with a 3-point lead and the momentum on Liberty side. Utep very first play of their next drive Amarian Williams picks off McConnell for a pick 6 and gives Liberty a 3-point lead after a successful 2-pt conversion.
As the game approached its final moments, the tension was palpable. With just under three minutes left on the clock, Utep found themselves down. A crucial drive, highlighted by some clutch passes, set up a 2-yd passing TD by McConnell to put Utep up 45-41 late in the 4th quarter. With the clock winding down, Salter and Cooley lead the offense down the field, needing a touchdown, the flames found themselves on a 4th and 3 with 40 seconds to go. The Flames put the ball into their best player hands, and Quinton Cooley rushes up the middle and falls inches short of picking up the first down.
The Liberty Flames fell just short of repeating as C-USA champs, 45-41.
UTEP IS YOUR NEW C-USA CHAMPIONS
Article By: 1st quarter- Liberty started with the ball and drove down the field against the UTEP defense and had the ball with the 10 yard line but thanks to the a great stop by Defensive End Maurice Westermorland they were able to Get Liberty to a 4th and long situation after all that Liberty Gets a field goal to go up 3-0. UTEP would then get the ball at their own 20 and would start driving down the field thanks to a nice 17 yard catch by Emari White #3. A couple plays later UTEP quarterback Cade McConnell would through a 42 year pick six to one of Liberty Wide Receivers to Now Make it 10-0. UTEP would now get the ball back after a bad ball and Would go one Play 83 years to the House which was caught by wide receiver Trey Goodman to make the score 10-7. Liberty would then take the ball then Drive all the way down the field just for them to get stopped and have to take another field goal to make the game 13-7 Liberty
1st Quarter ends
2nd Quarter - UTEP During this Second Quarter would start with a long drive with short drinks and Dumps to their receivers and tight ends which then the drive would them get capped of with a nice catch and run by receiver Trey Goodman Touchdown 14-13 UTEP now has the lead. Liberty would go ahead and Retain the football at the 20 yard line after a touch back. Liberty would get off to a hot start with a couple of Quinton Coley #20 10 and 20 yard runs to get Liberty Down to within the UTEP 20 yard line. After a converted 3rd down and nice pass From Kaidon Salter this game had become a 14-20 game after Liberty Elected not to go for it on the 2 pt conversion. With less then 3 minutes To go and UTEP getting the ball at half they go down and Strike the heart of the Liberty defense with Multiple passing play and some running to Go down and score to now Make the Score 21-20 before half.
2nd Quarter Ends
3rd Quarter- After both teams settled down after half UTEP got the ball to start the second Half and they go down and Score on the Opening drive to make it 28-20. UTEP started to feel good with there chances. After a Punt by Liberty and a Punt by UTEP Liberty would get the ball within their own 20 and Liberty quarterback Kaidon Slater #7 runs a speed option to the Left and Defensive End Dorian Hopkins Read the play perfect an comes and Tackles Slater and Kory Chapman Comes and Recovers to make the score 35-20. UTEP was feeling good. Liberty goes to the ball and After a Long run By running Back Quinton Cooley the Flames comeback to the game 35-27 to end the third Quarter
3rd Quarter Ends
4th Quarter Starts - UTEP would get the ball Kicked by to them and would have a bad couple of plays including a picked ball that was Intended for Tight end Judiah Enziwa #17 and Liberty would regain Possession of the ball with about 5 minutes left in the 4th. Some missed tackles later and Liberty in less then 5 plays was in the end zone thanks to Liberty Tight End Bentley Hanshaw #15 off of a play action pass from quarter back Salter to make the score 35-33 and after a QB draw that was ran on the 2 pt conversion that was failed The Liberty Flames where still down 2 with about 5 minutes left. After a Field goal by UTEP to make it 38-33 with 4 minutes left. Liberty would force a well needed Turnover and score to make the ball game 41-38. UTEP would start with ball at their own 30 after a good return by Kam Thomas #5 and would have a long methodical drive but after a long drive and they would get a reward by of pass by Cade McConnell in back of the end zone pass to wide receiver Emari White #3 to make the game 45-41 . With about a 2 minutes left to go and Liberty Champion ship hopes and dreams on the line they go down the field as fast and then can with about 30 second remaining on the clock at the UTEP 19 yard line. On a 4th down and 4 Liberty Decided to Run the ball and go stuffed By a UTEP linebacker to Give the ball Back to UTEP with less than 30 Seconds on the Clock,with Liberty only having 1 timeout this was over.
Final 45-41 UTEP C-USA Conference Champions
UTEP avenged there week 3 loss (31-37) against Liberty and they got their get back. This was a great season by both UTEP and Liberty. UTEP dose not Know what the Future Holds as there Coach Might be entering the draft for a new Team or he Might be staying. But after a 9-4 season UTEP fans are sure happy.
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