Back Judge, Hokies
The Hokies didn't survive a tough late call in the 2018 Military Bowl. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

While reminiscing about previous Hokies Military Bowl appearances during the TSL Podcast previewing this week’s bowl game, Andy brought up a questionable call in the 2018 edition against Cincinnati. Despite being a huge fan of Andy’s work for well over a decade at this point, I tend to take most gripes about the officiating from anybody in the sports media world with a grain of salt.

That written, I gotta say: Andy’s got a point on this one. Let’s get into it.

The Play:

3rd and 3 Hokies from the Tech 21-yard line, Justin Fuente’s squad is clinging to a 3-point lead with just over five minutes to go in regulation. The name of the game at this point is to maintain possession and run out the clock. QB Ryan “Scared Money Don’t Make Money” Willis finds Hezekiah Grimsley in the flat out of a trips formation, and Grimsley turns it upfield for a huge first down. Dalton Keene, working in the slot against press coverage, is flagged for offensive pass interference.

Officials Involved: Line Judge (LJ), Back Judge (BJ)

The Rule: The wording of the offensive pass interference rule is identical to the modern rule book (7-3-8b):

Offensive pass interference is contact by a Team A player beyond the neutral zone that interferes with a Team B player during a legal forward pass play in which the forward pass crosses the neutral zone. It is the responsibility of the offensive player to avoid the opponents.


It is not offensive pass interference
1. When, after the snap, a Team A ineligible player immediately charges and contacts an opponent at a point not more than one yard beyond the neutral zone and maintains the contact for no more than three yards beyond the neutral zone. (A.R. 7-3-10-II)