Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer criticized officials after a late pass-interference no-call helped seal a 20-17 loss to Georgia on Saturday, saying he never received a clear explanation for the decision. The play came on Alabama’s final drive and preceded a sack that pushed the Crimson Tide out of field goal range.
Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell threw deep for receiver Rico Scott late in the fourth quarter. Georgia defensive backs KJ Bolden and Braylon Conley broke up the pass, and replay appeared to show contact that kept Scott from a realistic chance to make the catch. No flag came out. On the next snap, Russell was sacked for a loss of 9 yards, ending any realistic path to a game-tying or winning kick.
The Main Development
DeBoer addressed the no-call directly with reporters after the game, calling out a lack of clarity from officials without naming names. “I mean, guess (he) didn’t feel like it was pass interference. That’s all you’re going to get,” DeBoer said, according to USA Today.
The Alabama coach said he did not get a real explanation as to why the play on Scott late in the game was not flagged as a penalty on Georgia, according to AL.com.
What It Means
DeBoer stopped short of blaming the loss solely on the no-call. “We can’t put the game in the situation where the officials come into play. We got to control the things we control,” he said. The remark put responsibility back on his own team even as he pressed officials for answers on the specific play.
That tension defined Alabama’s final possession. A flag on Scott’s route likely would have given the Crimson Tide a fresh set of downs deep in Georgia territory with a chance to either tie or take the lead. Instead, the ensuing sack erased any realistic scoring chance.
Context
The no-call was not the only penalty dispute from Alabama’s final drive. Alabama’s Dijon Lee hit a Georgia player after the whistle late in the game, drawing a 15-yard penalty that handed Georgia a first down and effectively sealed the win for the Bulldogs. The sequence of a missed call against Georgia followed by a confirmed penalty against Alabama added to the frustration around the finish.
The result spilled into the stands. Alabama fans threw trash onto the field toward officials and Georgia players after the final whistle, a visible sign of how the no-call resonated beyond the Crimson Tide locker room.
What’s Next
Alabama will look to regroup after dropping a game it had in reach against a ranked Georgia team. No details on an official review of the no-call or any SEC statement on the officiating crew have been made public. Alabama’s next game and any further comment from DeBoer on the officiating will determine how much the controversy follows the program into the following week.
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