53-yd FG with :07 left…delay of game for kicking after whistle. Hail Mary failed on next play. WOW #MyFanCave https://t.co/Soqx2nOfUP
— Next Impulse Sports (@NextImpulse) September 26, 2015
Ohio had a chance to tie Minnesota with a 53-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds on Saturday, but Gophers head coach Jerry Kill called a timeout just before the snap to try and ice the kicker, as one does. Ohio’s kicker, Josiah Yazdani, took his steps and kicked the ball anyway to keep his routine and prevent being iced–again, as one does.
Except today, officials decided to call delay of game on Yazdani for booting the ball, pushing the Bobcats back another five yards and just out of range. It’s a very rare call, as every kicker who gets iced in any game at any level these days regularly continues through the motions of kicking and nobody ever gets flagged for it.
Ohio was forced to go for the win with a Hail Mary, which failed, and their coach certainly wasn’t pleased about it.
Frank Solich was as ticked about that delay call as any I've seen him deal with in 11 years. That includes the safety from the 4-yard line
— Jason Arkley (@JasonRRArkley) September 26, 2015
It’s true that a made field goal would have only tied the game, but still, this is the type of finish you’d prefer to see get settled by the athletes on the field. Pretty weak, refs.
(via Next Impulse Sports)