NO OVERTIME NEEDED: SEXTON’S TRUST PAYS OFF AS LIBERTY TOPS WEST PLAINS, 29-28
CANYON, Texas
There was no timeout.
No long conversation on the sideline.
And apparently not much doubt about what Lubbock Cooper Liberty was going to do.
Talon Wilcox had just punched the ball into the end zone from one yard out with 46 seconds remaining Friday afternoon, pulling the Patriots within 28-27 against West Plains.
Coach Joe Sexton had a decision to make.
Kick the extra point and potentially play overtime?
Or put the football in the hands of his guys and try to win it right there?
Sexton chose his guys.
Liberty went for two.
Quarterback Cy Leach rolled to his left and found Koleman Hendrix for the conversion, giving the Patriots a thrilling 29-28 victory over West Plains and sending Liberty back to Lubbock with a perfect 4-0 record.
It was aggressive, but more than anything, it showed the trust Sexton had in his offense.
After nearly four quarters of two teams trading punches, Liberty had an opportunity to extend the game.
Instead, the Patriots went and won it.
ONE DRIVE TO GO WIN IT
West Plains had taken a 28-21 lead with 5:29 remaining, putting Liberty in a position where the Patriots needed an answer.
They found one.
Starting at their own 28, Liberty worked its way down the field before eventually facing fourth and four from the West Plains 31 with just over a minute remaining.
Convert or the game was likely over.
Leach delivered.
The Liberty quarterback connected with JJ Thompson for 30 yards, moving the football all the way to the West Plains one yard line.
Wilcox scored on the next snap.
28-27.
And Liberty never hesitated.
Sexton kept his offense on the field and trusted the Patriots to finish what they had started.
Leach found Hendrix.
29-28 Liberty.
WEST PLAINS REFUSED TO GO AWAY
The ending belonged to Liberty, but West Plains made the Patriots earn every bit of it.
Liberty had jumped in front 14-0 in the second quarter behind a one yard Kaiden Joseph touchdown run and a 60 yard touchdown pass from Leach to Jamison Gonzalez.
West Plains needed only one play to answer the second score.
Slade Russell took the handoff and exploded for an 82 yard touchdown, immediately cutting the Liberty advantage to 14-7.
The Wolves then forced a three and out before Paxton Chandler scored from five yards out with 1:07 remaining in the half to tie it at 14.
Liberty had an opportunity to regain the lead before halftime, but West Plains blocked a 29 yard field goal attempt as time expired.
The Wolves carried that momentum into the second half.
Timber Russell connected with Gage Blaser for a 36 yard touchdown in the third quarter, giving West Plains its first lead at 21-14.
Once again, Liberty answered.
Leach found Pierce Fioroni for a nine yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make it 21-21.
West Plains went back in front on a 20 yard touchdown run with 5:29 remaining.
That set the stage for Liberty's final drive.
ALMOST NOTHING BETWEEN THEM
The final score was not the only thing that showed just how evenly matched these two teams were.
West Plains finished with 385 total yards.
Liberty had 371.
The Wolves did most of their damage on the ground with 220 rushing yards, led by another huge performance from Slade Russell. The senior rushed for 206 yards, including his 82 yard touchdown.
Liberty countered through the air.
Leach completed 16 of 31 passes for 246 yards, distributing the football throughout the Patriot offense.
Pierce Fioroni led Liberty with four catches for 82 yards. Gonzalez had the 60 yard touchdown reception. JJ
Thompson finished with 51 receiving yards, including the massive fourth down catch on Liberty's final drive.
Hendrix caught four passes for 40 yards before hauling in the biggest two points of the afternoon.
Joseph led Liberty on the ground with 99 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.
Liberty finished with 21 first downs.
West Plains had 19.
Both teams lost a fumble.
Both were penalized nine times.
After almost 48 minutes of football, there was virtually nothing separating them.
ONE LAST CHANCE
Even after Liberty converted the two point attempt, West Plains wasn't finished.
The Wolves used the final 46 seconds to move into Liberty territory, eventually reaching the Patriots' 44 yard line with three seconds remaining.
That gave West Plains one final opportunity.
A 62 yard field goal attempt had the direction but came up short.
Ballgame.
Liberty 29, West Plains 28.
West Plains walked away 2-2, but the Wolves showed plenty in defeat. They erased an early 14 point deficit, produced 385 yards of offense and pushed an unbeaten Liberty team all the way to the final play.
For Liberty, the Patriots moved to 4-0 with easily their most dramatic victory of the young season.
But the lasting image might not even be the final score.
It might be Sexton leaving his offense on the field with 46 seconds remaining.
He had the opportunity to play for overtime.
Instead, he trusted his guys with the football and the game.
Go win it.
They did.
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