Miami endures as Hokies’ Hail Mary TD overturned

• Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior WriterSep 28, 2024, 02:01 AM ET

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  • ACC press reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
  • Graduate of the University of Florida.MIAMI GARDENS,

Fla.– Miami and Virginia Tech took turns celebrating a victory Friday night after a wild final play that left anger and heartbreak for one team and wild jubilation for the other. There could be only one winner, of course.Though Miami’s

Isaiah Horton emerged from a tangle of 7 Miami and Virginia Tech players in the back of completion zone, authorities ruled that Virginia Tech receiver Da’Quan Felton had come down with the ball before it was battled far from him.Touchdown, Virginia Tech.The Hokies then ran onto the field in

celebration, helmets raised high, thinking they had actually won the game on a 30-yard Hail Mary heave into the end zone from Kyron Drones. Both teams crushed on the field, Virginia Tech believing it had won, Miami incredulous over the call.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Confusion ruled.

Head referee Jerry Magallanes bought them back to their particular sidelines, and a replay review began.Virginia Tech felt great the call on the field would stand; Miami felt great the replay authorities would call the pass insufficient. At least six minutes passed, an interminable wait that Miami coach Mario Cristobal described as” liability problems that include that, with the cardiac condition of everybody on the sideline.”Magallanes got on the mic and revealed the touchdown call on the field had been overturned, allowing the Hurricanes to commemorate a 38-34 victory.In a statement issued 2 hours after the game ended, the ACC said,”During the evaluation process of the last play of the Virginia Tech at Miami game, it was figured out that the loose ball was touched by a Miami player while he was out of bounds, that makes it an insufficient pass and immediately ends the play.”Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry, visibly upset, said later, “The way the game ended, I hope they got that call ideal. To take that, to overturn it and take it from our kids, our coaches, our fans, I hope they got it right.”After the play ended, Pry said he ran over to the authorities and asked, “How did you rule it?””He stated,’ Goal,'”

Pry stated.” Usually, when you look at something that long, it does not get overturned. I didn’t believe there sufficed proof to reverse it. So, like I said, I hope they got it right.”The ending topped a four-hour game that featured more Camera Ward magic, a stuffed fake field goal effort, an Xavier Restrepo fourth-down catch while on his back, Bhayshul Tuten running roughshod over the Miami defense and Drones almost willing his team to victory.Miami overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit– their largest of the season– to relocate to 5-0 for the very first time because 2017. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, dropped its third

one-score game this season. In the consequences, both coaches resolved an ending so wild, it seemed hard to comprehend an hour later. “I saw an insufficient pass. That’s all I can say,” Cristobal said.When asked later what his feelings resembled awaiting replay to make a ruling, Cristobal stated,” It’s wild. [

In] college football, you’re never all the method

clear and easy to win a game, you’re never all the way out of it. It just keeps going. We did talk about it, that you do not leave a game like this in the hands of the authorities because you may be dissatisfied. At the end of the day, we simply found a way to win. “While Miami players went through different stages of emotion waiting on the final decision from the authorities, Virginia Tech was left with frustrating frustration in the result. The Hokies led 34-31 with 8:40 left. However a quick three-and-out gave the ball back to Miami.Though Ward had three turnovers in the game– two interceptions and one fumble– he was a wizard on what ended up being the winning drive. On fourth-and-3 from the Virginia Tech 50, Ward went to Restrepo, who slipped and fell however still made the catch. He tossed another third-down completion to Horton before his finest play of the game.On first-and-10 from the Virginia Tech 27, Virginia Tech protective end Keyshawn Burgos had Ward in his grasp, but Ward slipped away. Then Kaleb Spencer tried to take him down. Ward thought rapidly and flipped the ball to a waiting Riley Williams, who went to the 2-yard line, stiff-arming an approaching Keli Lawson at the same time. Ward said he always informs Williams in situations like that not to obstruct but to wait for a possible outlet pass.A play later, Ward threw a 1-yard goal pass to Horton to provide Miami the lead with 1:57 left. Drones then got to work, marching Virginia Tech down the field. With 8 seconds left, he rushed to the Miami 30-yard line, leaving 3 seconds for one final play. Virginia Tech sent Felton, Jaylin Lane

and Stephen Gosnell to the end zone; Miami had Horton, Mishael Powell, Jadais Richard and D’Yoni Hill. They all jumped for the ball at the exact same time. Felton came down with it, but he, Lane and Horton all seemed out of bounds, and the ball seemed proceeding replay. Miami players involved in the play informed their teammates it was an incomplete pass.”I believed it was going to be overturned just because everybody ran out bounds,”Ward said.But due to the fact that the play was called a touchdown on the field, Virginia Tech felt that sufficed to win.”I don’t understand how that call gets reversed,”Drones stated. “Probably due to the fact that we played here. “Pry said it was hard to find the words to inform his team in the locker room later.”They’re harming. That’s why I stated I hope they got it right,” Pry said.

“I can inform them I’m happy, and I did, however that ain’t helping them today.”