SOUTH BEND, Ind — The Hurricanes thought they had just tied the game against Notre Dame.
Tight end Elija Lofton looked like he caught the ball in the end zone and got two feet down on the ground before a defender punched the ball out of his hands out of bounds.
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The referee did not agree. The pass was ruled incomplete and upheld on review, and the No. 1 Hurricanes’ comeback bid against Notre Dame was stymied. Miami coach Mario Cristobal was frustrated with the call after the game.
“Really disappointed that they negated Elija Lofton’s touchdown with two hands on the ball and two feet in bounds,” Cristobal said. “But like we told our team before we left Miami, do not leave it in the hands of the officials. That’s what you’re going to get out here. So aside from that, a very hard-fought game. Congratulations to Notre Dame for winning the game, and very disappointed in the way that was called with the game on the line and clear possession of a football in bounds.”
Cristobal said he did not receive any explanation from the officials.
“I’m (ticked) off. So what do you want me to say?” Cristobal said. “I mean, it’s bull—-, and I’ll leave it at that. And again, that’s the way it was seen by them. So I’ve got to live with it and respect it, and our players got to live with it. And we’ve got to do better. And you know what? Again, don’t leave it in the hands of the officials. Play better, coach better, find a way to win. But I, again, I don’t need to be criticizing officials. I just need to move on.”
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On the broadcast, rules analyst and former NFL referee Terry McAuly said he believed the officials got the call right.
“He does not have the ball long enough to perform an act common to the game,” McAuly said. “You see him bobble it just a little bit before the ball gets knocked out. It’s incomplete.”
Quarterback Darian Mensah was so sure it was a touchdown, he ran down the field to celebrate with Lofton.
“I was celebrating. I thought it was a touchdown,” Mensah said. “So I didn’t even see him drop the ball at the end. And then his reaction told me that, oh … he dropped it.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
