Mississippi State believed they had a clear fumble recovery against Georgia, but the referees called the play dead.
The Georgia Bulldogs are the lone undefeated team remaining in the SEC, holding a perfect 9-0 record entering Week 11. All they need to do is win one more conference game to clinch a spot in the title game against the LSU Tigers. The Mississippi State Bulldogs were looking to play spoiler and hand Georgia their first loss of the season.
Some Mississippi State fans may have felt the hit was out on the team, thanks in part to a controversial call by the referees in the first half. Georgia running back Daijun Edwards ran the ball, but fumbled it, which Mississippi State to recover. The problem is, the referees ruled that the play was dead before the fumble.
It’s safe to say there were people who weren’t happy, based on tweets.
Mississippi State fans felt jobbed by refs after overruled Georgia fumble
#HailState is getting JOBBED against UGA! Clear roughing call, flag thrown then picked up. Then a fumble, which was ruled that his forward progress was stopped so it's not reviewable. Disgusting!
— Chris James (@cjflorida9) November 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/dumpster_dawgs/status/1591595945547939841
I was. Like how the heck?!?!?!? That was clearly a strip fumble
— Timothy kern (@KernDog04) November 13, 2022
Refs strike again! Clear fumble take away.
— Rob5865 (@Robhead5895Head) November 13, 2022
The running back knew it was a fumble.
— Kaleb Ross (@ross61_kaleb) November 13, 2022
So it’s not a fumble cause the play is already dead but the ball was already in Miss St players hands before the whistle? Makes sense.
— Jake Heil (@jheil1208) November 13, 2022
The referees called the play dead quickly after Edwards hit the pile and then the football got stripped out of his grip.
Georgia had taken a 17-3 lead behind a Stetson Bennett touchdown pass to tight end Brock Bowers and a touchdown run from the quarterback. Mississippi State was able to cut the deficit to 17-12 just before halftime. With 51-seconds remaining, Massimo Biscardi kicked a 36-yard field goal. Then, after forcing a three-and-out, Zavion Thomas returned a punt for a 63-yard touchdown.
After the half, Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach was asked by ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath what his reaction was to the calls in the first half, and he had quite the answer.
Mike Leach interviews are always an adventure pic.twitter.com/Vd9IBX7ovE
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) November 13, 2022
“What’s your reaction? You’re watching the same game I am,” said Leach. “I think you ought to comment on it positively or negatively, whatever’s running through your mind.”
While the missed call will be something Mississippi State fans will remember in the first half, they can’t gloss over the fact that they were able to put up nine points in less than a minute just before halftime.
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