Credit to Paul Christ for taking the blame for the fourth and one decision to send the punt team before returning to attack after a false start. “Didn’t handle it.” pic.twitter.com/jshwt4iqNe
– Jake Adams (@ jakeadams520) November 28, 2021
Ultimately, UW turned the ball down to finish the move on its 33-yard line.
Choose a turning point
Minnesota picked up steam in the second half when quarterback Graham Merz’s transfer to the right-hand apartment meant for senior Kendrick Pryor was intercepted by newcomer from Minnesota Justin Whalley. As a result, Minnesota scored 28 points and the Gophers scored two goals later.
“If you give them a short field, we go up to 10-6 and then they quickly scored on the short field,” Crist said. “(We) didn’t do enough to win.”
University of Wisconsin soccer coach Paul Crist addresses the media after the 18th-ranked Badgers fell into Minnesota gold gophers 23-13 at Paul Bunyan’s ax battle on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Mertz made a pass behind Pryor, but Pryor got ahead of Wally to take the ball first. The two battled for the ball on their way to the ground, and it turned out that they had the ball at the same time, which, according to the rule, should have been a catch for Prior. As the two rolled on the ground hitting the ground, one of Pryor’s arm came off the ball, which was likely the reason for the referees’ decision to call it an interception.
Pryor said he was not surprised that the call remained after review.
“They called it interception, and I just know about these games and those calls that if there is no clear evidence, most likely they will not be canceled,” Pryor said. “I think if they first called it a catch on the field, it would still be a catch.”
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