The Western Illinois football team was about a 40-point underdog to Wisconsin on Saturday, and the Leathernecks didn’t make things any easier on themselves on the opening kickoff.
Western Illinois kick returner Kyle Hammonds made a simple enough mistake when he dropped the opening kickoff in his own end zone. However, it’s what he did after that bobble that really hurt.
Hammonds eventually gathered the ball, but he did so outside of the end zone. Either forgetting or not knowing where he was, Hammonds stepped back into the end zone and took a knee.
The play originally was ruled a touchback. However, the Badgers decided to challenge the play — cruel, given the circumstances — and the play was overturned and ruled a safety, giving Wisconsin a 2-0 lead just 1 second into the game.
It’s unlikely that one play ends up making the difference in the game, but Western Illinois did hold Wisconsin otherwise scoreless through the first quarter.
(H/t to SB Nation for the GIF)
