WATCH: Power Echols snags impossible interception off his toe in Holiday Bowl

The Holiday Bowl saw one of the wildest plays of the college football season after Power Echols grabbed an interception off his foot. A ball was tipped off the intended receiver’s hand and ricocheted off a fellow North Carolina defender’s calf — popping up in front of Echols. Echols then managed to pop the ball up into the air off his own toe and grab the interception before it hit the ground.

PICKED OFF

The @UNCFootball defense comes up with a massive play pic.twitter.com/v0NkqKXYwb

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 29, 2022

Power Echols grabs wild interception

The play itself was a massive momentum shift in the game before the end of the half, but the replays afterwards showed just how improbable the interception was.

Meanwhile in the Holiday Bowl pic.twitter.com/Gb5C1DtcZb

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 29, 2022

Officials eventually reviewed the play to determine if the interception actually did occur, as well as to check if the play was a legal one because it involved a kicked ball. The officials determined that the interception stood and that the kick made by Echols was not intentional — allowing the contact with his toe and the interception.

The chaotic moment resulted in Echols having a free path down the sideline with his return, only to be knocked out of bounds by quarterback Bo Nix around the 50-yard line. The Tar Heels took advantage of the crazy turnover by delivering a touchdown strike on the very next play, taking a 21-14 lead into halftime instead of a possible three-point deficit before the interception.

Strangely enough, his incredible interception wasn’t the only play Echols was involved in that drew attention on Wednesday — although he had little to do with it. During the second half, North Carolina punt returner George Pettaway came in to field a punt with Oregon backed up against their own end zone.

Unfortunately, Pettaway and Echols share a jersey number — No. 23 — because they play on opposite sides of the ball normally. With both players in on the play, Pettaway quickly grabbed a new jersey to avoid having the same number as another player. Pettaway failed to report his jersey change to the officials however, leading to a penalty and a fresh set of downs for the Oregon offense due to the costly mistake.