UNC Football: ACC says officiating errors made on final play at Wake

Atlantic Coast Conference says officiating errors were made on final play of UNC football game at Wake Forest

Just hours after North Carolina lost to Wake Forest on Friday night, The Atlantic Coast Conference stated that the replay official erred on the final play of the game, league supervisor of football officials Dennis Hennigan said in a statement on Saturday.

The play in question — one that saw UNC junior running back Michael Carter scramble for 13 yards and a first down before going out-of-bounds — was ruled the final play of the game, despite his foot stepping onto the sideline with one second remaining on the game clock.

Hennigan stated that referees determined that Carter’s forward progress had been stopped and that time had elapsed. He said that a replay review would have resulted in the officials spotting the ball at the Wake Forest 43-yard-line with one second remaining in the game. From that point, the game clock would have restarted on their signal, potentially giving the Tar Heels the opportunity to get one more play off before the game ended.

Instead, the officiating crew ran off the field as if there was a four-alarm fire, despite the UNC players and coaching staff pleading for a final play. North Carolina head coach Mack Brown ran up the field chasing members of the officiating crew asking for the final second of the game to be put back on the clock, but was ignored. Brown stated after the game that one of the referees confirmed to him that there was a second left on the clock prior to Wake Forest players and fans storming the field.

Hennigan stated that all disciplinary measures would be handled internally, and the matter is now closed. Whatever those measures are leave North Carolina’s team and fans with no solace, knowing that the offense should have had one final opportunity at the end zone in a six-point game.

The 2-1 Tar Heels return home next week to face off with Appalachian State before a matchup with No.1-ranked Clemson the following week.

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