Have you ever seen somebody have their helmet fly off as they block a field goal?
Well, that’s exactly what happened on a wild play during Saturday’s University of Texas at El Paso-Florida Atlantic game.
On a Florida Atlantic extra point attempt late in the fourth quarter, UTEP junior defensive end Praise Amaewhule put his hands up in an attempt to block it. Well, block it he did.
Though, the block also somehow sent Amaewhule’s helmet flying in the air along with the football. The Miners recovered the blocked kick and ran the football back for the two-point conversion swing UTEP’s way.
Here's the play pic.twitter.com/26eaANe0fr
— Weather and TV Analyst (@sportsontvguy) October 22, 2022
We at For The Win headquarters have reviewed this play multiple times and have inconclusive findings as to exactly how Amaewhule’s helmet went off during the play. It’s just one of those clips college football fans will have to study religiously, like it’s the Zapruder film of 2022 special teams plays.
The referees immediately flagged UTEP for an unusual unsportsmanlike penalty that apparently happened after the kick when Amaewhule briefly ran after the football with no helmet.
The game broadcasters tried to explain more on why the flag came flying, adding that Amaewhule might’ve kept a Florida Atlantic player out of the ensuing blocked kick recovery while not wearing a helmet.
Commentators tried to offer an explanation pic.twitter.com/VgEbajnp1u
— Weather and TV Analyst (@sportsontvguy) October 22, 2022
After all that pandemonium, the Owls just got a chance to rekick the extra point, which they made.
Though, the football gods appeared to favor UTEP in the end, with the Miners walking away from the contest with a 24-21 win.
Hats, er, helmets off to the Miners for hanging on after what was one of the stranger sequences in college football in the past few weeks.
At the very least, it’s been quite a season for UTEP defensive linemen!
Feature image courtesy of ESPN.
