The Spanish Fork (Utah) High School football team on Tuesday night suffered what will probably go down as its most heartbreaking loss in program history. With just 3.7 seconds remaining in its Utah Class 4A state tournament play-in game, Spanish Fork had possession of the ball with a 14-11 lead over Maple Mountain. All the Dons had to do was run out the clock and they were advancing.
Unfortunately, Spanish Fork quarterback Jason Money forgot he wasn’t playing basketball.
Money scrambled right after taking the snap and watched the clock tick down to zero. The problem is a football game doesn’t just end when there is no time remaining. Money gave up on the play like the whistles were going to blow before the final play was over, and Maple Mountain’s Jason Blanthorn knocked the ball out of his hands. Blanthorn’s teammate Brandon Beebe scooped up the fumble and ran it 25 yards for a game-winning score.
Since it was 4th down, Spanish Fork couldn’t just take a knee. That would have resulted in an instant turnover. Instead, all Money had to do was run out the clock (which he did successfully) and then give himself up or throw the ball away. He forgot about the latter part, and we can only imagine how horrible he must feel. You hate to see that happen to anyone.
Here’s a video of the play:
H/T The Big Lead
