The Alabama Crimson Tide and Ole Miss Rebels were engaged in a defensive struggle for much of the first half of Saturday’s contest, and it was a defensive play late in the first half that swung momentum dramatically into Alabama’s favor heading into halftime.

Trailing 7-3 with less than a minute remaining before the break, Ole Miss ran the ball around the left side with tailback I’Tavius Mathers when Crimson Tide defensive back Cyrus Jones stripped the ball, scooped it up and ran into the end zone untouched to put the Tide up 11.

However, it appeared Jones committed an obvious facemask to turn Mathers toward him, giving him easy access to strip the ball loose. After checking out the replay, the facemask was rather obvious, and it appeared the official was in perfect position to see the infraction.

The penalty was not called, and a defensive struggle was blown wide open with Alabama’s late touchdown to put the Tide up two scores.