Alabama using NF OT rules

[alabamabluezebra]

Point of reference: Alabama uses NF overtime rules.

I read this description on one of local high school's athletic home page (http://www.stjtrojans.com/football2004game07.htm):

"Opp tried a squib kick, but it was picked up by Michael Stabler and returned just short of midfield. After 3 plays picked up 10 yards, Murphy connected with Alter over the middle for 22 yards. On the next play, Ward caught a 10 yard pass and dragged a tackler out of bounds with 14.8 seconds remaining at the 8 yard line. St. James tried two passes to the endzone, one which was caught just out of the endzone, and another incomplete. With 3.3 seconds left, Sutter was called on to kick from an angle, but he converted from 25 yards out and the game was tied at 29 as the stadium clock wailed, setting up an overtime situation, the first for St. James since 1999.

St. James lost the coin toss, and Opp elected to play defense first. After an incomplete pass and a 4 yard run, Murphy's pass over the middle was intercepted by Jaquez Henderson, who zigged and zagged through the Trojans before finally being brought down across midfield. Opp was awarded their first overtime possession, and Cook, who faked a pass, saw an opening on the left and kept the ball on a wide keeper and strolled untouched into the endzone on the first play, giving the Bobcats a well-earned overtime win, keeping their playoff hopes alive, and postponing the Trojans from clinching their playoff berth for at least another week."

Does something sound wrong with this play?

[Middleman]

Yes. The play should have been blown dead when "... Murphy's pass over the middle was intercepted by Jaquez Henderson ..."

[1AAUMP]

They should not have allowed the run after the interception. The ball becomes dead when B gains possession in OT (FED).

[waltjp]

Agreed - should have been dead when B gaines possession. But, this was obviously written by someone in the stands. They're giving the remining time in tenths of seconds and citing the scoreboard's wailing as ending the game.

Don't read too much into these game recaps.

[Warrenkicker]

Is it possible that Alabama is experimenting with allowing the defense to score in overtime? Or maybe the officials were also college officials and just got mixed up. Or maybe they just screwed up.

[alabamabluezebra]

No experimenting with the overtime rules unless the crew did it on their own. Probably the first overtime officiated by the crew.