Officials make critical, costly mistake to end half in Kentucky vs Georgia
With fewer than 10 seconds remaining in the first half against Kentucky, Georgia was driving and attempting to setup a field goal to hold a 9-0 lead at the break. Quarterback Stetson Bennett completed an out route to tight end Brock Bowers who was knocked backwards out of bounds after making the catch.
The officials stopped the clock, but CBS announcer Gary Danielson pointed out that because Bowers had been sent backwards and there was no forward progress out of bounds that the refs should’ve let it run out on Georgia. Rules analyst Gene Steratore agreed.
“I thought he was tackled backwards out of bounds here, not any forward progress. I’m wondering why that clock doesn’t keep running on that play. He did not have forward progress. I think this half should be over. I think they should take a look at replay,” Danielson said. “Is it a reviewable play?”
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But the clock stoppage is not reviewable. As Danielson cede the space to Steratore, the Georgia field goal unit was running on.
“Not really a reviewable play, Gary, and I agree with you. He’s not knocking him sideways, he’s knocking him backwards,” Steratore said.
As Danielson and Steratore talked through the play, Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny stepped up and drilled the kick to extend the Bulldogs lead.
“Big call, Georgia got a big break there,” Danielson said as Georgia and Kentucky went to their respective locker rooms.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops earlier was incensed about a flag
Kentucky was very nearly penalized in a critical situation in its comeback bid against No. 1 Georgia, to the point that video cameras showed coach Mark Stoops going crazy on officials.
Facing a third-and-13 from the Georgia 20-yard line, quarterback Will Levis threw a pass toward the left sideline, attempting to get it out of play while under pressure from the Georgia pass rush. The ball fluttered as it came out.
Meanwhile, as Levis was in the middle of his throw, a Kentucky receiver in the area got tangled up and went down.
Because of the bang-bang play, officials initially threw a flag for intentional grounding, which would have backed Kentucky up considerably and made for a difficult field goal attempt. Kentucky trailed 16-6 at the time, needing to score a touchdown and a field goal, at minimum, to get back into the game.
Thus Mark Stoops going crazy on the officials.