Western Michigan did what Stanford was unable to do last season.
The Broncos opened the season on the road against Northwestern, doing so as a bit of an underdog in the eyes of those in Las Vegas. However, P.J. Fleck’s crew managed to come up with a wild victory in Evanston. The key play was one of the more bizarre we have seen in the early going of the 2016 college football season.
Down 22-21, Northwestern was knocking on the doorstep of the endzone for a late go-ahead touchdown, or so it seemed. Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson had the ball knocked out of his hands as he was running to the left side of the field. A tackle likely would have stopped him short of the endzone, but instead, the ball was wiggling its way out of bounds in the endzone. Had it done so without any player contacting it, the play would have resulted in a touchback for the Broncos. For some unknown reason, WMU’s Davontae Ginwright got greedy, or was unaware of the rules in the heat of the moment, and tried to pick up the loose ball and lateral it to a teammate.
Ginwright’s attempt to keep the ball alive nearly cost the Broncos the win.
Western Michigan dude just tried to GIVE NORTHWESTERN A TD. But it was ruled touchback. https://t.co/ADg4BMjK0J
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 3, 2016
The officials ruled Ginwright’s lateral attempt came as his feet were out of bounds. I have seen the review I don’t know how many times now, and I still am left wondering if that’s accurate or not. In either case, it is darn close. The play was ruled a touchback.
Had Ginwright been in the field of play, the ball could have been recovered by Northwestern. Two Wildcats were there to pounce on the lateral attempt in the endzone. Fortunately for Western Michigan, the refs upheld the ruling on the field, the Broncos took over control of the football at the 20-yard line, and managed to close out the Wildcats on the road for a huge upset.
This was a little too close for comfort, but Fleck and his team will take a win over a Power Five conference team any way they can get one.
turn down for fleck pic.twitter.com/MSorVFtP65
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) September 3, 2016
PJ Fleck got LIT AF in the locker room after WMU’s big win against Northwestern#RowTheBoat pic.twitter.com/EsoKV2NGgw
— Jack McGuire (@BigDaddysCourt) September 3, 2016
