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Auburn

Controversial scoop and score overturned in Auburn-Texas A&M game

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•09/23/23
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Damari Alston (Photo by Erik Rank/Auburn Live)

Auburn had finally started to get its offense engaged late in the first quarter against Texas A&M before a devastating hit and fumble resulted in a controversial scoop and score play for the Aggies.

The Tigers had marched the ball to the Aggies’ 30-yard line, looking to punch it in for their first points of the game.

Instead, running back Damari Alston was absolutely rocked on a pitch off the right side. Texas A&M’s Bryce Anderson slipped past a block and blasted Alston right in the chest, jarring the ball loose.

Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper scooped it up and returned it 63 yards uncontested to the end zone, putting the Aggies momentarily up 12-0.

But upon review, officials determined that the pitch actually traveled forward, making it a pass. They also ruled Alston had not secured the catch for long enough to establish possession, making it an incomplete forward pass. Alston had appeared to take a step with his right foot after receiving the ball but never got his left foot back down before Anderson’s hit.

You can view the full hit here:

The overturned and controversial scoop and score for Auburn was huge, if for no other reason than to take away the Texas A&M points.

Auburn faced third-and-8 when play resumed, but the Tigers lost eight yards on a sack and were forced to punt it away.

The Tigers trailed 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.

It’s worth noting that Alston was shaken up on the controversial scoop and score play and had to be checked out by trainers for a couple minutes before leaving the field on his own power.