2002 Jeep Liberty 4wdr 3.7L Hood issue

Any tips on how to get a hood open on a jeep? I believe the entire hood latch assembly to be bad. I can reach through the grill with my hands/a prybar and move the latch lever back and forth that the hood the cable once connected to but the hood will not release! I would love to find some way to get the hood open without doing any damage to the vehicle, but I think my only option may be to cut the hood latch bar with a saws-all. Please help!