Salina’s late-game sequence included an incomplete pass as time expired, followed by renewed life when Pueblo was flagged for an illegal defense. Liberty coach Heron O’Neal described the final-play call as a designed run executed out of specific receiver formations, and said it was not a Hail Mary. Smith said he found an opening near the left wall for the touchdown that triggered a Liberty celebration.
The Liberty will host the league’s No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Southwest Kansas on Sunday at 3 p.m. at United Wireless Arena in Dodge City. Salina’s championship opponent finished 9-1 in the regular season and won its semifinal against the Omaha Beef 51-31. The Storm beat the Liberty twice during the regular season, but those games were before Adams rejoined the Liberty late in the season.