Not sure Kentucky is quite No. 1 like JJ Weaver signaled but at least the Cats beat Missouri. (UK Athletics Photo)
I’ve seen a lot of strange things covering the University of Kentucky football team since 1975 but Saturday’s game at Missouri might top the list.
Never ever have I seen a high snap over the punter’s head that looked disastrous for the Cats clinging to a 21-17 lead turn into a play that won the game at Missouri and maybe saved Kentucky’s season.
Kentucky’s special teams have been a disaster and were again Saturday — two missed field goals and a block in the back on a punt return. However, that was nothing compared to when Colin Goodfellow went in to punt with 2:34 left in the game. The snap was way over his head and he had to chase it back to the 5-yard line. Somehow Goodfellow managed to pick up the ball on the run, turn and punt.
Missouri’s Chad Bailey crashed into him either trying to block the punt or keep him from running but was called for roughing the kicker because Goodfellow and the ball stayed in the tackle box. Instead of Missouri in position to win the game with a short touchdown drive with over two minutes to play, Kentucky got a first down. The Cats ran the clock down to 47 seconds before pinning Missouri deep in its own territory and escaped with the win.
Goodfellow had to be carted off the field after the play and coach Mark Stoops said he was “hurt bad” after the game.
The UK coach also readily admitted UK was “fortunate” the play turned out like it did.
“He made a great individual play,” Stoops said. “It was fortunate for us that it stayed in the tackle box. If he exits (the tackle box), he’s no longer protected.”
“I had confidence our defense could get the stop but it was a lot nicer with 40-some seconds than two minutes (when Missouri got the ball).”
Sophomore linebacker Trevin Wallace, who had eight solo tackles, three tackles for loss and one quarterback sack replacing injured starter DeAndre Square, could only watch the ball sail over Goodfellow’s head.
“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness,’” Wallace said. “Then I saw the flag (for roughing the punter) and I could settle down. He made a great play. He gave his body up. You have got to sacrifice to win games and he did.”
Still, a different bounce outside the tackle box and Kentucky probably loses. If Bailey just gets a hand on the kick, it’s not roughing the punter.
But this time the football gods looked after Kentucky — remember Chris Rodriguez’s fumble was overturned and that set up the winning touchdown pass to Dane Key — in a game UK had to win to keep alive hopes of an 8-4 finish if it can beat Vanderbilt and Louisville (and no, I am not even considering any chance that UK beats Georgia).
2 Responses
Big time heads up play by Goodfellow. He saved UK’s bacon. UK was very fortunate to win this game. I am very thankful for UK reaching bowl eligibility. UK has proven this year however that they have much work to do on their Oline. They can’t protect their QB. Teams are killing Levis. Way to many pre snap penalties also. Sloppy, but they got a much needed win, I’ll take it. Go Cats.
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One of the most stunning turns of events I can recall.
I believe the Goodfellow play represents everything that college football should be about, and I believe the call the officials made on that play was correct.
I am not certain that the reversal of the Rodriguez fumble was the correct call. The one TV view of the play from behind I believe showed the ball already out of his grasp, appearing to lay on the outside surface of his arm and elbow as he was going down to the ground. The movement of the ball and the arm appeared to be in synch, but there is no way the position of the ball, outside his arm, is "in the grasp"
Had the original call been no fumble, I believe that the call could have been reversed based on this view alone because it would have been uncontroverted evidence the call is wrong. However, since the call on the field was a fumble, I don’t see how there was uncontroverted evidence the call was wrong.
I am shocked by the reversal, and the Cats were the beneficiary of the zebras last night on this play. Over the decades, UK football teams have almost never been treated so well by the zebras.
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