LYNCHBURG, Va. – Kaidon Salter threw two touchdowns and ran for another and the undefeated No. 20 Liberty kept its hopes of a New Year’s Six bowl bid alive, defeating New Mexico State 49-35 in the Conference USA championship game on Friday night.
Salter was 20 of 25 passing for 319 yards and rushed 12 times for 165 yards in a dominant performance for the Flames (13-0, 9-0), who could play on New Year’s Day as the top-ranked Group of Five team if No. 17 Tulane loses to SMU in the American Athletic Conference title game on Saturday.
“If you’ve watched us for 13 weeks, we’re the best G5 team in this country,” Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell said to cheers from a crowd that had stormed the field. “Six wins against bowl teams. Our average margin of victory is 17 points. We dominated our opponents. We are one of the six of the new year.”
With the score tied at 35, Billy Lucas ran for a 2-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give Liberty the lead. On New Mexico State’s next possession, Brandon Bishop stepped in front of Eli Stowers and intercepted third-string quarterback Blaze Berlowitz’s pass one-handed in the end zone.
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Four plays later, Salter turned a broken play into a 35-yard touchdown run. He was named the game’s MVP.
“I feel like today I just went out and had fun,” Salter said. “That was the main goal today, even though it was a championship game and a big game for everyone. For us, it was just the next thing and we just wanted to go out there and play for each other today.”
Diego Pavia, who did not practice during the week because of a shoulder injury, threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score for the Aggies (10-4, 7-1), whose eight-game winning streak ended. Pavia left the game in the third quarter and did not return.
“He’s the toughest kid I’ve ever been around, and you can quote me on that,” Aggies coach Jerry Kill said.
In came Berlowitz, who hadn’t thrown a pass all season. His 11-yard TD pass to Trent Hudson tied the score with 2:57 remaining in the third quarter.
The Flames, with the No. 1 rushing offense in the country, ran for 393 yards. Quinton Cooley had 11 carries for 71 yards and three touchdowns, Lucas finished the game with 86 yards on 14 carries and Aaron Bedgood had 72 yards on five carries. Liberty finished the game with 712 yards of offense, had 35 first downs and didn’t turn the ball over while defeating New Mexico State for the second time this season.
“This is the second time we have played [Salter]“And he just doesn’t make mistakes,” Kill said.
Although there were few defensive stops, New Mexico State stayed close until the final quarter. After Salter’s 20-yard touchdown pass to CJ Daniels gave Liberty a 35-21 lead in the third quarter, Pavia threw a 75-yard scoring pass to Jonathan Brady on the next play from scrimmage.
Liberty’s next possession ended in a missed field goal. Berlowitz took advantage and scored Hudson to equalize.
“We obviously did our best,” Chadwell said, “but there was never any doubt on our sideline that we wouldn’t find a way to get it done.”
Hudson had seven catches for 112 yards and two scores. Pavia was 11 of 18 passing for 188 yards and had 45 yards rushing. Berlowitz was 10 of 19 for 134 yards.
Liberty will make its fifth consecutive bowl appearance since becoming a full member of the FBS in 2019. The Flames are 3-1 in bowl games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.