WVU’s Ali Jennings Thinks There Was ‘Definitely Interference’ on Final Play vs Texas

A number of West Virginia fans were upset following the Mountaineers’ 17-13 loss to the Texas Longhorns Saturday afternoon.

Mountaineer fans took issue with WVU’s final offensive play, a fourth-and-one from the Texas eight-yard line. WVU quarterback Jarret Doege pulled the ball away from running back Leddie Brown on a run-pass-option play and threw it to wide receiver Ali Jennings, running a post route in the endzone. Jennings was heavily contacted by UT senior defensive back Chris Brown and the pass fell incomplete.

Many WVU fans felt that Brown’s contact with Jennings was enough to justify a defensive pass interference penalty, thus extending WVU’s drive and giving the Mountaineers more opportunities to score a touchdown trailing by just four points. A penalty flag was never thrown, however, and the Longhorns were able to run out the remaining clock and secure the victory.

WVU football coach Neal Brown said after the game that he did not want to comment on the play without first watching it again on film. Talking with the media on Tuesday, however, Jennings himself admitted that he felt the play warranted a penalty.

“It was definitely interference, but I have to do more to get open instead of letting him be able to grab me,” Jenning said.

Jennings finished the game with two receptions for 17 yards. Doege completed 35-50 passes for 317 yards in the losing effort. Chris Brown finished with three tackles for the Longhorns and was credited with a pass breakup.