Malachi Moore saves Alabama from potential game-tying safety vs. South Carolina
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Malachi Moore may have saved the game for Alabama against South Carolina on Saturday.
Facing a 3rd and long, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw up a desperate pass in the final seconds, hoping to find a receiver in the end zone for a miraculous win. Instead, it was Alabama defensive back Domani Jackson who caught the ball at about the 3-yard line.
Jackson was moving toward the end zone as he caught it and ended up drifting beyond the goal line. Jackson appeared to consider taking a knee, but ended up returning the INT after Moore urged him to do so.
If Jackson had taken a knee, officials could have ruled it a safety — and thus would have likely forced overtime at 27-27. It’s also possible that officials would have decided that Jackson’s momentum carried him into the end zone, in-which case it would have been Alabama’s ball at the point of forward progress.
Regardless of what the ruling would have been, Moore’s awareness prevented that from even being an issue. Jackson returned the INT to near midfield and the clock expired, giving Alabama a much-needed win.
Here’s a replay of the crucial moment:
Malachi Moore saved that final interception from being the most disastrous game-tying safety in history. pic.twitter.com/Tfm6A5G9BJ
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) October 12, 2024
Alabama will play at Tennessee in a potential top-10 showdown next weekend in Knoxville.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
