In Football, Illegal Plays

IN FOOTBALL, ILLEGAL PLAYS should result in penalties. But in the 1997 Missouri–Nebraska football game, a questionable play gave the Cornhuskers a key victory.

Before a crowd of 66,846, the Tigers stunned the top-ranked and undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers by scoring on four of their first six possessions and taking a 24–21 halftime lead. Missouri continued to keep pace with the Cornhuskers in the second stanza, going ahead 38–31 on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Corby Jones to Eddie Brooks.

However, Nebraska drove to the Missouri 12 with seven seconds remaining. On the third down, quarterback Scott Frost threw to Shevin Wiggins in the end zone. A Tigers defender batted the ball, and Harold Piersey appeared ready to make the interception. But before the Tiger could clutch the pigskin, Wiggins fell to his back and booted the ball. Cornhuskers receiver Matt Davison dove and caught the flying football for the tying touchdown just before it hit the turf.

Missouri fans stared in disbelief. Forced into overtime, Nebraska scored first on a Frost 12-yard option. The Tigers failed to score on their offensive series, and the Cornhuskers escaped with a 45–38 victory.

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POINT Missouri fans discussed the game for days. Football experts wondered if Nebraska had scored illegally. Rules provide a penalty for deliberately kicking a football to keep it in bounds. If Wiggins deliberately kicked the pigskin, Nebraska’s penalty would be 15 yards plus the loss of down.

However, according to the technical adviser for Big 12 officials, an accidental kick isn’t a penalty. If officials are in doubt, they shouldn’t make a call. The referees did the right thing . . . although later Wiggins admitted that he deliberately kicked the ball.

Rules play an important role in athletics. Enforcing the standards makes contests fair and the playing field level. Some directives also help prevent injuries. Ignoring the regulations ruins the integrity of the sport.

In the same way, ignoring God’s laws costs us our integrity and separates us from him. Fortunately, his rules are outlined for us in the Bible.

GOAL! Do you know the rules of your favorite sport? Take time to read God’s laws in Exodus 20:1-17. Ask the Lord to help you keep his rules.