The Liberty football team finished second in the 3A state football tournament after falling to Bellevue 23-17 in the state championship game.

Liberty’s Chandler Jenkins broke loose through the middle for a 72-yard score to provide the Patriots’ only points in the first half.

The Patriots ran just six offensive plays in the first half as Bellevue controlled the ball by grinding out run after run. The Wolverines led 16-7 at the half.

Jenkins bounced a run outside to the left for a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to bring Liberty to within two points, 16-14. Jenkins finished with 110 rushing yards and two scores.

Bellevue scored on a 23-yard rush later in the quarter.

Dean Byron hit a 37-yard field goal with 26 seconds left in the game to cut Bellevue’s lead to six, but the Patriots weren’t able to recover an onside kick.