HABOOB

Rutgers’ lateral play against Indiana amazes, if only it would have counted

Oct 31, 2020, 5:26 PM

Any football coach teaching a lesson to young players about never giving up should show a play in the final moments of the Indiana and Rutgers game on Saturday.

In a 16-point deficit with just over two minutes left in the game and facing a fourth-and-32 situation around midfield, Rutgers kept a play alive by completing eight lateral passes.

One of the many highlights of the play was offensive lineman Raiqwon O’Neal, who just tossed the ball up in the air when swarmed by defenders hoping one of his teammates would catch the ball.

Wide receiver Shameen Jones caught Neal’s “pass” and four more lateral passes were completed before the ball ended up in wide receiver Bo Melton’s hands.

Melton, with just one man to beat, raced up the field and into the endzone.

The game was basically over and the touchdown wouldn’t have mattered for anything else but pride, but it was a play people would remember for much longer than Rutgers falling to Indiana and moving to 1-1 on the season — if only it had counted.

Referees deemed Rutgers had an illegal pass during the spectacular play, taking away the touchdown.

Sure enough, Rutgers was not able to pull another rabbit out of the hat and lost the game by 16 points.

Hats off to the Rutgers players for never giving up and delighting college football fans with a crazy moment on Halloween, even though it didn’t count in the end.

Haboob

Follow @AZSports...

Haboob Blog

NFL teams continue trend of amusing, creative schedule release videos

Lots of teams across the National Football League continued to meet the standard set on schedule release day.

3 days ago

(Seattle Mariners/X screenshot)...

Haboob Blog

Airborne meats are making their mark across Major League Baseball

Hijinks around Major League Baseball and the meats within have never been more unusual, many of which have been airborne.

5 days ago

Tip Reiman speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine...

Tyler Drake

Throwing pots: Cardinals rookie mauler Tip Reiman an artist at heart

For Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman, his time spent away from the field includes a hobby that is about the furthest thing from violent.

6 days ago

Jonathan Gannon comments on Kyler Murray and James Conner hoop skills at a Oklahoma City Thunder-Da...

Bailey Leasure

Jonathan Gannon pokes fun at Kyler Murray and James Conner’s hoop skills

Jonathan Gannon comments on Kyler Murray and James Conner hoop skills at a Oklahoma City Thunder-Dallas Mavericks playoff game.

7 days ago

Blake Walston...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks prospect Blake Walston’s Las Vegas call-up: ‘I was at the table’

Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Blake Walston was at the Blackjack table when he received the news of a lifetime. 

17 days ago

Beekeeper clearing the bees at Chase Field D-backs-Dodgers game....

Arizona Sports

Bee guy Q&A: Matt Hilton explains of why swarm delayed Dodgers-Diamondbacks

Matt Hilton, the bee guy who removed a swarm, explained why it disrupted the start of the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game.

17 days ago

Rutgers’ lateral play against Indiana amazes, if only it would have counted