UL Monroe upsets Liberty, 31-28 on late 53-yard field goal
Malik Willis scores 3-yard Rushing TD vs. UL Monroe
Malik Willis scores 3-yard Rushing TD vs. UL Monroe
MONROE, La. -- — Calum Sutherland kicked a career-long 53-yard field goal with under two minutes to play and Mark Williams preserved the victory with an interception as Louisiana-Monroe upset Liberty, 31-28 on Saturday night.
The Flames came into the game on a three-game win streak and were a 32-point favorite to win. Malik Willis ran for a touchdown and threw for another to stake Liberty to a 14-0 lead at halftime, but the Warhawks roared back by scoring 28 straight points in the third quarter.
Chandler Rogers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Henry to open the third and a 14-yard strike to Zach Rasmussen. In between, Abraham Alce punched in from the 1 and Henry bolted 40 yards for a score.
Liberty rallied in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28 after Shedro Louis ran for a score and Willis raced 53 yards to even the game with 7:49 left to play.
Sutherland's game-winner was the Warhawks' first field goal from beyond 50 yards since the 2014 season.
Rogers was 16 of 25 for 225 yards and two touchdowns and an interception to lead UL Monroe (3-3). Henry finished with 15 carries for 80 yards.
Willis was 16 of 28 for 135 yards and a touchdown but threw three interceptions. He carried 23 times for 157 yards and two scores for Liberty (5-2).
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Game Information
2024 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | 7-1 | 9-5 |
| Western Kentucky | 6-2 | 8-6 |
| Sam Houston | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| Liberty | 5-3 | 8-3 |
| Louisiana Tech | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| UTEP | 3-5 | 3-9 |
| Florida International | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| New Mexico State | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Middle Tennessee | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Kennesaw State | 2-6 | 2-10 |
2024 Sun Belt Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Georgia Southern | 6-2 | 8-5 |
| James Madison | 4-4 | 9-4 |
| Old Dominion | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| Coastal Carolina | 3-5 | 6-6 |
| App State | 3-5 | 5-6 |
| Georgia State | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Texas State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Arkansas State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| South Alabama | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| UL Monroe | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| Troy | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Southern Miss | 0-8 | 1-11 |
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