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SEC officials overturn Kentucky catch late in 1st half vs. Georgia after controversial review

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz10/04/25NickSchultz_7
SEC officials overturn Kentucky catch late in 1st half vs. Georgia after controversial review
Screenshot courtesy @rarerookies/X

Late in the first half of Saturday’s game between Kentucky and Georgia, Wildcats tight end Willie Rodriguez appeared to make a great catch deep in the red zone. However, the SEC officials went to the monitor to review and ended up overturning the call.

The officials called it an incomplete pass after the review. Rodriguez appeared to haul in the catch in bounds, but as he hit the ground on the sideline, the ball popped out.

ABC rules analyst Matt Austin thought the call would stand as a catch because Rodriguez’s knee appeared to be down before he went out of bounds. However, the referees saw it differently. Kentucky wound up missing the ensuing field goal, which ended the first half.

“This one’s going to be interesting because he was an upright receiver, but he was contacted immediately,” Austin said on the broadcast. “So the judgment from the replay official is going to be, does he have to survive the ground?

“I’m with you. I think he was upright, he caught the ball, so he should not be considered going to the ground. It should be down the minute his knee hit the ground. It should be a catch.”

After the officials announced Rodriguez did not complete the process of the catch, play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore asked Austin if he was surprised by the decision. While the former official understood the rationale, he said would’ve called it differently.

“Like I said, it’s a very subjective call,” Austin said. “He was contacted as soon as he contacted the ball. I could understand why they considered him a receiver going to the ground – therefore, he would have to survive it. In my opinion, I thought he earned it going to the ground because of the tackle.”

Kentucky then got within striking distance of the end zone, but Cutter Boley’s pass sailed out of bounds with two seconds remaining. That brought out Jacob Kauwe for the 26-yard field goal attempt, but it sailed wide left, meaning Georgia headed into the locker room with a 21-7 lead.

Through one half, Georgia totaled 241 yards of offense, led by 134 yards on the ground. Chauncey Bowens had a team-high 51 rushing yards while quarterback Gunner Stockton had two rushing touchdowns to go with 48 yards. Additionally, Stockton went 11 of 19 for 107 yards, but threw his first interception of the season.

Boley, meanwhile, went 12-of-17 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown to Josh Kattus. Seth McGowan spearheaded the rushing attack with seven carries for 32 yards.