New Mexico State falls to Liberty in entertaining Conference USA title game

Dec. 1—The question might've been complicated.

How did this — 49 points, 712 yards of total offense, 339 rushing yards, 35 first downs, no punts — happen?

Jerry Kill's answer wasn't.

"Quarterback," New Mexico State's head coach said in a postgame press conference. "Next question. I mean, what do you want me to say? Quarterback.

"He was the difference."

Behind a career effort from quarterback Kaidon Salter, No. 20 Liberty knocked off NMSU in a 49-35 shootout on Friday night to win a Conference USA title — and remain undefeated — in their first year as full-time members.

On the biggest stage of his career, Salter was magnificent, completing 20 of 25 passes (80%) for a season-high 319 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Flames (13-0) in rushing with 165 yards on 12 carries.

"We just couldn't stop 'em. And (Salter's) got a lot to do it: he can run, he can throw it. My hat's off to the kid because, you look at their offense and he was their leading rusher and leading thrower.

"Pretty much sums it up."

Playing through what Kill said was a shoulder injury, quarterback Diego Pavia finished 11-for-16 passing for 188 yards and three touchdowns before being pulled for an untested Blaze Berlowitz. The true freshman from Cushing, Okla., completed 10 of 19 passes for 134 yards, one touchdown and one interception to keep the Aggies (10-4) comeback attempt alive deep into the fourth quarter.

"He didn't bat an eye," Kill said of Berlowitz. "He came in throwing and to be honest with you, he surprised me a little bit. He's gonna be a good player, too, but our kids played hard — we didn't play well all the time but we played hard."

Trent Hudson led the Aggies with seven receptions for 112 yards and two key touchdowns, while Pavia led them in rushing with 45 yards on five carries.

On a chilly night at Williams Field in Lynchburg, Va., NMSU set a blistering tone early as Pavia capped an eight play, 75-yard drive with a 25-yard rushing TD for a 7-0 lead.

Liberty answered quickly with Quinton Cooley punching it in from NMSU's one-yard line after an initial 21-yard touchdown was wiped from the board. On the Aggies' ensuing possession, Pavia rolled out to his right and hit right end Ron Tiavaasue for a 10-yard touchdown, NMSU pulling ahead 14-7 with 14:55 left in the second.

The Flames managed another crisp drive deep into NMSU territory — only for the Aggies to come up with a stop on fourth and 2 within their own 10. But Liberty held NMSU to a three and out, eventually taking over with a short field and tying it at 14 off Cooley's 12-yard touchdown.

With 27 seconds left in the first half, Salter hit wide receiver Noah Frith for a 26-yard touchdown to hand the Flames a 21-14 lead. But kicker Max Morgan's attempt at a squib gave the Aggies a short field. They capitalized in stunning fashion, marching down the field for a 22-second scoring drive capped by Hudson's 17-yard touchdown with three seconds remaining to set up a 21-21 halftime score.

Cooley ripped into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown early in the third for the 28-21 lead and after holding NMSU to another three and out, Salters hit wide receiver C.J. Daniels for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 35-21.

Pavia answered, however, rolling to the right on the first play of NMSU's ensuing drive and lofted the ball to Brady along the sideline — who came down with it and ripped past cornerback Preston Hodge for a 75-yard touchdown.

35-28 Liberty with nine minutes left in the third.

Then, Liberty drove into the red zone on their ensuing drive, leading to Nick Brown's 32-yard field goal — which sailed wide right.

And with Pavia pulled from the game, Berlowitz entered to lead the Aggies on a six-play, 80-yard drive capped by his 11-yard touchdown pass to Hudson.

35-35 with 2:51 left in the third.

With a shootout on their hands, Liberty put it in Billy Lucas' hands, who tore up the sideline for 43 yards to set the Flames up within NMSU's 10-yard line before roaring into the end zone for the 42-35 lead with 13:51 left.

Berlowitz led the Aggies down into the red zone once more — only to throw a pick to cornerback Brandon Bishop in the end zone while targeting backup quarterback Eli Stowers. Officials reviewed the play as Bishop and Stowers each argued they had possession of the ball.

Ultimately, the Flames were rewarded the ball at the 20-yard-line. Kill said he didn't get much of an explanation from the officials on the borderline interception call.

"I mean, that's not a difference in the game or anything like that," he said. "It's a good play on both those kids' parts."