A review of film of the Wyoming-Colorado State football game shows a lineman was downfield illegally on a fake punt play that triggered a third-quarter rally by CSU, Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said Tuesday.
Colorado State (8-1 and 6-1 WAC) was trailing Wyoming 24-7 and faced a fourth-and-7 from the Rams' 33-yard line when punter Matt McDougal faked a punt and passed 35 yards to Andre Strode for a first down.The Rams went on to score on the series and eventually beat the Cowboys (4-6, 2-4) 35-24.
"On the play in question, a replay clearly shows that a down lineman for Colorado State was illegally downfield when the pass was thrown," Benson said. "A mistake was made when the umpire did not call a penalty which would have nullified the play.
"Such a mistake is regrettable, and it was human error. But as coaches and players are accountable for their actions, so are the officials involved in the game."
The WAC review does not change the outcome of the game.
The WAC office said Wyoming coach Joe Tiller didn't protest the play, but told the conference office the officials had missed the violation and asked that it be reviewed.