Sports

Miami Escapes Loss As Controversial Overturned Hail Mary Spoils Top-10 College Football Upset

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Miami Virginia Tech Hail Mary Controversy
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Virginia Tech defeated Miami in the closing seconds of Friday’s college football game at Hard Rock Stadium… until it didn’t. The Hokies had their game-winning Hail Mary overturned as incomplete after a lengthy review after time had already expired.

It was an unfortunate end to what should’ve been a top-10 upset.

Heisman Trophy favorite Cam Ward completed 24 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns with 10 carries for 57 yards and six points on the ground. He looked fantastic throughout most of the game, especially in the first quarter, but a pair of interceptions forced the Hurricanes to play from behind.

Virginia Tech took a 24-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. Miami rallied back with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to go up 38-34 with one minute and 57 seconds left in the game.

Miami narrowly escaped Virginia Tech.

The Hokies took over at their own 25-yard-line. They drove 45 yards up the field on eight plays:

  • seven-yard pass
  • six-yard pass
  • four-yard pass
  • one-yard run
  • TIMEOUT, Virginia Tech
  • eight-yard pass
  • seven-yard pass
  • TIMEOUT, Miami
  • Incomplete pass
  • 12-yard run
  • TIMEOUT, Virginia Tech
  • TIMEOUT, Miami

Three seconds remained on the clock.

Virginia Tech had 1st-and-10 at Miami’s 30-yard-line. It had one last chance at glory.

Quarterback Kyron Drones took the snap and let one rip. Wide receiver Da’Quan Felton pulled down what appeared for a moment to be the game-winning catch in the back of the end zone until a defensive back came up with the ball. The home crowd and the Hurricanes went nuts.

However, after pausing for a moment to discuss, ACC officials ruled it as a touchdown.

The play immediately went up to the booth for review. Five or so minutes passed while the Atlantic Coast Conference tried to determine whether Felton had possession, in bounds, before the ball was punched loose. To make it even more confusing, the defender who initiated the punch was laying out of bounds.

Even though the decision could’ve gone either way, and the video evidence was not clear, obvious or indisputable, the play was overturned.

During the review process of the last play, it was determined that the loose ball was touched by a Miami player while he was out of bounds.

— Atlantic Coast Conference

It was ruled as an incomplete pass.

Miami escaped with a four-point victory to stay undefeated. Virginia Tech was handed its third loss on the most controversial play of the college football season thus far.