Biggest play of the game is when Rocco spun out of that sack and threw a dime to Sama for first down.
*** Official UCF vs #9 IOWA STATE Game(Day) Thread ***
- Thread starter CycloneRulzzz
- Start date
Watching the replay from the downfield angle, it looked like the pass was intended for Noel but Sama was right there and just took it. Turned out fine, since it was well covered defensively.
He was in there when Rocco scored on the QB sneak. He ran the ball to the 1 prior to that score. He was very labored during that stint.
@ISUCyclones2015 leaves town and all of a sudden there's some breakfast pizza at my Casey's.
Coincidence?
I think not!
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My wife was at the airport in DSM and texted me about all the sad UCF fans. She loved every minute of it, but knows the feeling all too well!
Replay is on FS2 (DirecTV # 618).
It's crunch time in the 4th quarter with the Cyclones down 27-35.
Let's Go State!
It's crunch time in the 4th quarter with the Cyclones down 27-35.
Let's Go State!
Man, I hope they can pull this out!
Took the snap from a wildcat formation & ran down to the 1, then when lining up for the next play you could see him whince, then after Rocco ran it in he limped off the field & didn't take another snap. Didn't seem to take a large hit, so hoping it was something he can jump back from in a short time.
Rewatched this today, so many guys limping after plays. Bye week could not have come at a better time... Get everyone some treatment and ready for the home stretch... 4 Home Games (1 in KC) and 1 Away game that looks very winnable at this point.
I thought the pass was meant for the guy closest to Rocco, I think a Tight End. We really had 3 guys on that sideline so can't really tell who he was throwing to. Could have been a lucky miss!
Man, we had a lot of things go our way to win this game. In the 3rd quarter, Rocco was running for a 3rd down and a UCF defender came straight at him, but it looked like he was afraid Rocco would slide so he veered off and allowed Rocco to just run ahead another 6-7 yards and get the 1st down. That "slide" rule is just unfair to defenders. But really that UCF player should have made the tackle.
We also were fortunate to convert on 4th downs when we absolutely had to. That is just so unlike ISU. And these weren't 4th and 1, tush push Becht ahead for an easy conversion. We needed 3 to 4 yards and we made it. Three for three! 100% on 4th down.
Also, that back judge who called the DPI at the 3 yard line, that UCF complained about; actually there had been similar plays by UCF that were NOT called earlier in the game. So to have it called in the last minute of the game... Whew!!
Finally on our final touchdown, we had 1st and goal at about the six. Noel ran into the end zone and then cut toward the back corner. Rocco underthrew the ball. The defender was right there. The ball actually hit the UCF defender right in the middle of his back. Had he simply turned and looked, it was an easy interception and we lose.
I'm not claiming divine intervention or anything, but it really took a lot of things to break our way for that victory.
We also were fortunate to convert on 4th downs when we absolutely had to. That is just so unlike ISU. And these weren't 4th and 1, tush push Becht ahead for an easy conversion. We needed 3 to 4 yards and we made it. Three for three! 100% on 4th down.
Also, that back judge who called the DPI at the 3 yard line, that UCF complained about; actually there had been similar plays by UCF that were NOT called earlier in the game. So to have it called in the last minute of the game... Whew!!
Finally on our final touchdown, we had 1st and goal at about the six. Noel ran into the end zone and then cut toward the back corner. Rocco underthrew the ball. The defender was right there. The ball actually hit the UCF defender right in the middle of his back. Had he simply turned and looked, it was an easy interception and we lose.
I'm not claiming divine intervention or anything, but it really took a lot of things to break our way for that victory.
The flipside to the slide rule being unfair is that it would appear officials mark the ball about 3 yards short of where they started to slide.
on the second down play at the goal line, the running back (Miller?) actually flinched and lifted his hand early so another missed false start.
I know that many thought the DPI was an uncatchable ball, but I think Higgins would have had a chance to catch it if not interferred. The defender pretty much blocked him out of bounds. I still can't believe that official who was right there didn't throw the flag. It was right in front of him. The flag had to come from the back judge.
Also, Verdon had a huge shoestring tackle on Harvey on second down the series before. He didn't completely get him down but held him up enough for reinforcements. Harvey gets the first down and they get the win if Verdon doesn't make that play.
On the flip side of this:
- The officials calling a clear DPI is not a fortuitous bounce just because they didn't call other clear DPIs on the same team. That makes it harder to win, not easier. Not exactly breaking our way.
- UCF clear hook and hold on ISU's DT on the long UCF QB rush for TD. If that gets called UCF is facing a long conversion rather than kicking a PAT. Not exactly breaking our way.
- Third downs were often longer and harder to convert than necessary due to regular poor spots by the officials. ISU was regularly facing 3rd and 4 or 5 rather than 2 or 3 due to poor spots. It is a huge advantage to a defense to have a pretty good idea the offense is going to pass due to down and distance. The playbook is wide open on 3rd and 2. This can result in having to go for it on 4th down more than you would like.
In addition the defender wrapped him up holding his arms down and restricting a jump which made the pass look higher than it was. The throw is going to be high because you are throwing to a tall receiver so you want him to go up and get it over the defender. If you can't jump it is going to look high. If a player can (or could have if unimpeded) touch the ball at all anywhere near in bounds they can't call it uncatchable. The uncatchable call is a pretty high (or low, depending on how you look at it) bar. Also many times that there is an uncatchable ball if contact involves any sort of grabbing they can call a defensive hold instead.
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I was amused that for the second time in less than a year, a defender helped out a Cyclone back by giving him a good shove.
Given everything I've been dealing with personally and the time off since the last game I was trying to remember the gif moment for this game and saw this post. Got it locked and loaded for tonight.
