UNC lost, 24-18, to Wake Forest on Friday night thanks to some outrageously terrible clock management in the final seconds of the game, which was an unusual matchup between ACC teams that doesn’t count in the conference standings this year.
But forget anything that happened by the players on the field. The best moment of the game came from a referee, who transformed an embarrassing fall after nearly being tackled into a beautiful somersault.
Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell charged up the field for eight yards and a first down early in the second quarter with his team already trailing, 21-0. But as the true freshman hit the ground for UNC’s first first down of the game, he took the ref with him.
Excellent recovery on his part. He lost his hat but bounced right back up to carry on officiating.
However, it’s not great when the broadcasters described this as one of the most athletic moments of the game — although it does make sense when UNC only punted or fumbled in the first quarter.
