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Dylan Robinson's Questionable Pass Interference Hinders Huskies Late
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- Dylan Robinson's Questionable Pass Interference Hinders Huskies Late
To say that penalties alone cost Washington a shot at a win against USC would be an overstatement, but there's no debating the impact that multiple calls had on the outcome of the game. With the Huskies being found guilty of ten penalties for 74 yards, there are a number of calls that hindered the chances of victory. However, the most impactful penalty also happened to be the most controversial.
With two minutes left to play in the third quarter and the Huskies trailing 22-21, punter Hunter Green continued his stellar night by pinning USC inside its own 1-yard line for the second time in the contest. After forcing a third-and-five from the Trojans ' own six, sophomore cornerback Dylan Robinson made what was seemingly a great coverage play by breaking up a deep pass intended for wide receiver Tanook Hines.
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However, the nearby official did not agree, penalizing Robinson for pass interference and bailing USC out from having to punt from under their own goal post. Rather than getting the ball back with promising field position, Washington's offense remained on the sideline, while their opposition was able to take advantage of the opportunity and walk away with a field goal to extend their lead to 25-21.
According to the rulebook, the 6-foot-3 corner did everything he was supposed to. As the ball was in the air, Hines appeared to grab Robinson's jersey and pull him into the body of the receiver. Meanwhile, the defensive back turned his head in an attempt to make a play on the ball, a key indicator that officials look for in order to not penalize defensive backs.
After the controversial call moved the sticks, the Trojans put together a 16-play, 77-yard drive that chewed 7 minutes and 59 seconds off the clock. The Huskies were still able to have a pair of offensive possessions in the quarter, but not without increased urgency and desperation due to the time and situation. Rather than trailing by a point and simply needing a field goal to win, Demond Williams and company were forced to try to find the end zone on their final drive.
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As is the case with most games, there are numerous plays or series of events that one could point to as to why Washington fell short. Going 1-for-12 on third down, the quarterback being sacked on five separate occasions, or a decade of penalties. So while it's safe to say that one pass interference call didn't win or lose Washington the game, it certainly didn't help a team that is in desperate need of some good luck.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Dylan Robinson's Questionable Pass Interference Hinders Huskies Late
