Rationale for TD

[Suudy]

Watching the WSU/Oregon game Saturday (wild one, double OT), the second OT TD for WSU got me thinking. Of course the announcers are clueless, but I had a thought on this.

I tried to embed the video (didn't work), and here's a link to ESPN's highlight.

Luke Falk pass complete to Robert Lewis for 4 yds for a TD - ESPN Video

For those that don't want to watch the video, here's the scenario. (I think) 3rd and goal for WSU. A4 throws a pass to A21 who is hit and falls to the ground near the GL. After hitting the ground, the ball pops in the air and A15 catches the ball and runs in for a TD. There was a discussion among the officials and they said (if I remember correctly) "The ruling on the field is that the ball never hit the ground. Touchdown."

This seemed like the right call to me.

Of course the announcers are saying during the replay that they thought the receiver was down. And in the replay he was on the ground with the ball before it popped loose. But given the NCAA's AR about continuing action, I would think that had the ball hit the ground they would have ruled the pass incomplete.

Does this seem right?

In my opinion, they had 2 choices: the receiver is down (and given where it looks like the ball is when he hits the ground TD) or the catch was never completed and the ball never hit the ground, so TD. What I found strange was that they had to have such a long conversation about it.

(Note: IMO, the officiating was suspect at many times. There was a case where they had a flag on the field for OPI, but then waved it off saying the pass was completed behind the LOS. Yet replay clearly showed the receiver 3-4 yards past the LOS. The official on the field had the flag, and I'd think that since he threw the flag he knew where the pass was relative to the LOS. And there another case where the D had grabbed the facemask of the QB, who then threw the ball, and they called IG. And others.)