UW, BYU screwed out of an instant classic

It would have been fun to watch an overtime shootout between UW’s Jake Locker and BYU’s Max Hall. But we couldn’t do that because the Pac-10 had to show us once again how terrible their officiating crews are.

With seconds left in the game and the Huskies down by a touchdown, Locker scrambled from the BYU 3-yard line and into the end zone for the score. An extra point would tie the game and we’d be going into overtime. We would have been treated to a great ending on a perfect Saturday afternoon for college football.

But then the officials flagged Locker for excessive celebration because he lobbed the ball over his shoulder and hugged his teammates after the score. It was one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen (Seahawks Super Bowl included) and the penalty pushed the extra point to a 35-yard try. Not even close to chip shot in the college game.

BYU blocked the extra point and college football fans everywhere were robbed.

Thanks for that.

I would love to have written about a deadly efficient BYU offense and its outstanding quarterback Max Hall. He was 30 of 41 for 340 yards and three touchdowns. But I’m too sickened.

I would love to have written about a gutty effort by Locker who took the team on his shoulders in the second half – rushing 17 times for 72 yards and going 17-32 for 204 yards in the air for the game. But I’m too ill.

I would love to have written about Husky freshmen running back David Freeman who emerged as a tough and exciting runner when starter Chris Polk went down with an injury. But I’m too nauseous.

I would love to rip the Huskies defensive coordinator for once again not preparing a squad that gave up 477 total yards, averaging 6.9 yards per play. But I’m too pissed.

I would love to have watched a classic ending in one of the best football games of the season. But now I have to go mow my lawn.