This past weekend was the "oldest non-conference rivalry in college football" game between the University of Cincinnati and Miami University. Miami led 14-3 going into the 4th quarter, the same as last year, before the Bearcats made a comeback.
Well this year was no different. A botched kick return after a late touchdown by UC led to a 14-yard interception run and a 21-17 loss for the RedHawks.
The last quarter was full of garbage officiating and questionable calls.
Gus Ragland, Miami QB, recovered his own fumble on 2nd down. It didn't end the drive, but Coach Chuck Martin ripped into him, presumably for the fumble.
Miami is down inside their own 15. It's 3rd down and 2. They're trying to run the clock down as much as possible to ensure that UC uses their last timeout while Miami still has control. The play is going to be a run, obviously.
The play clock runs down to 5 and I tell my roommate, "They're gonna call their own timeout, they didn't even have a play planned." I was right, and the whistle blows. But there's a flag.
A delay of game penalty. With less than 2 minutes left, the ref our coach told to call a timeout with 1 second left just forgot.
I have a better hold on my temper now, but I would be absolutely destroying that ref. I would tell him what I would do to his mother, my headset would be smashed to pieces and I would be throwing anything else I could. You don't let a ref make that decision.
That penalty then led to a pass play (because you can't run it in your own red zone on 3rd down with less than 2 minutes left) that was intercepted and sealed the fate.
There was a pass interference flag thrown on the last play of the game which could have led to a Miami touchdown, but it was picked up; another questionable part of the game.
Regardless, Miami lost and UC has kept their bell trophy for the past 12 years. Maybe next year, RedHawks. Maybe next year.