Controversy surrounds ending of Houston vs. Seattle XFL game

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 7, 2020) The Houston Roughnecks “received” their fifth win of the 2020 XFL season with a 32-23 victory over the Seattle Dragons at TDECU Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston. The word “received” is used because even though the game had ended, Houston may not have actually “won” the game.

With four seconds remaining on the clock, Houston had the ball, with a nine-point lead. Facing a fourth-and-23 play, quarterback P.J. Walker was instructed to run out the clock and kill the ball to end the game. Instead of back peddling in the pocket and throwing the ball out of bounds; he took a knee. Unfortunately, when he did than, there were still two seconds remaining in the game.

Instead of the clock being stopped, it ran out and the referees left the field after declaring the game was over. In reality, the Dragons should have received the ball on the Roughnecks’ 21-yard line, for a one-play drive. It would have been possible for Seattle to score a touchdown; and to go for a three-point conversion, which would have tied the game.

The mistake was noticed by on the ABC broadcast by announcer Steve Levy. “This is unbelievable. Somebody's gotta go get the officials. Clearly, two seconds are left in this game!" Unfortunately the game was called as "over" and nothing else could be done.

The XFL released a statement after the game to apologize for the error. In the statement, it was indicated that Wes Booker, who was the officiating supervisor for the game, had been reassigned.