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Memphis Tigers senior wide receiver Joseph Scates played a big role in his team’s 44-38 overtime victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday.
But it didn’t come without a little bit of sacrifice.
Scates caught four passes for 55 yards in the win, helping Memphis move to 8-2 and stay in the hunt for the American Athletic Conference championship game.
But Scates almost didn’t make it to overtime.
Not because of anything he did wrong. But rather due to a referee that seemed like he might just have a vendetta against the wideout.
Also, Joseph Scates should’ve been allowed to announce unnecessary roughness on the ref for this 💀 pic.twitter.com/AsdOto0KV1
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) November 11, 2023
Scates suffered both injury and insult against the 49ers when a flag was thrown directly into his groin, causing him to crumple to the ground.
For those who are unaware, football flags are filled with sand-attached weights so that officials can throw them significant distances.
That’s not something you want to get hit with below the belt.
Thankfully, Scates returned to the game not long after and didn’t seem to show any ill effects. But he won’t soon forget the traumatic experience.