B1G refs muddy Oregon win with bonehead call on McClellan's circus catch

At the start of the fourth quarter with the Ducks leading 19-7, Dante Moore and the offense faced 3rd and 6 at their own 21.

Moore lofted a pass to Jeremiah McClellan who had a step on Husky cornerback Dylan Robinson down the left sideline. As the ball reaches McClellan in stride Robinson has both hands locked on the receiver's left arm, an obvious, blatant pass interference penalty.

McClellan, who is as focused, graceful and surehanded as any college wideout in the country, reaches out one-handed and cups the ball, pinning it against the green "O" on his helmet. He falls hard to the ground, first on his knees, then the ball, forearms and helmet hit the turf, the receiver still securing the football.

With the play of the day overturned, Benson delivers a knockout

A long review ensued, the call upheld, and the Ducks had to punt, James Ferguson-Reynolds flipping the field with a 48-yard boot, fair caught at the 31. McClellan's miraculous grab would have been a first down at the UW 48.

Given new life by the missed penalty and a questionable decision, Washington drove 69 yards in 13 plays to make it 19-14 with just under nine minutes to play. Malik Benson made it a moot point with a spectacular play, leaping for a pass from Moore on a deep in-route and streaking 64 yards for a dagger touchdown on 3rd and 8.

Pass interference isn't reviewable but perhaps it should be. The Husky defensive backs employed the tactic of pulling away the receiver's arm throughout the game, penalized twice, both times Ephesians Prysock the culprit.

The ground didn't assist in the catch and McClellan maintained control. Either way, it should have been a first down. A day later it remains merely a footnote, the greatest catch that wasn't. That's twice now McClellan's been involved in an all-out effort play, the other being a toe-drag catch in the end zone against Minnesota, ruled a touchdown.