Jeff Lebby shares what he was told about controversial missed field goal vs. Florida

In a 23-21 loss to Florida on Saturday, Mississippi State contended that an early field goal attempt that was ruled a miss should have counted. As it turns out, it would have made the difference in the game.

Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby was asked after the game whether he ever received an explanation for the call. He relayed what he was told.

“I’ve been told it’s not (reviewable) because, again, what I was told was that it went right over the upright,” Lebby said. “I think, as I’ve watched the tape, it’s pretty fair. And they did, they said that not reviewable and as it goes right over the top of the upright was what I was told was not good.”

The kick in question came in the second quarter, when Kyle Ferrie missed a 41-yard field goal attempt ever so slightly wide right. Immediately on replay some were questioning the ruling.

Even the Associated Press noted it was a vital moment in the game. The publication wrote the following in its post-game report:

“The Bulldogs kept it close throughout and potentially should have had more points. Kyle Ferrie missed a 41-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter, but replays appeared to show the ball going over the upright.”

In any case, Mississippi State would have a chance to win the game late. Following a Florida sequence that gifted the Bulldogs a late possession down 23-21, they would have their chance.

Florida perplexingly called a quarterback rollout for DJ Lagway on third-and-1 with about two and a half minutes remaining in the game, rather than hand off to Jadan Baugh, who had 150 rushing yards in the contest. Lagway was stuffed for a big loss and Florida had to punt it away.

Mississippi State quickly drove down the field into field goal range, but the Bulldogs got greedy. Quarterback Blake Shapen ended up throwing an interception to dropping lineman Michai Boireau in coverage, effectively sealing the game.

Lebby explained the decision in light of the earlier ‘missed’ field goal. He noted the following.

“Obviously want to put Kyle in the best situation possible,” Lebby said. “I’ve got a lot of faith in Kyle, a lot of confidence. We missed a 41-yarder going that direction on the exact same hash, and I wanted to try to create a really good opportunity for him to go win the game. And we have a little bit of time to go do it, but we don’t have a timeout. So all of those things factor in.”