Was the last TD run by Harris a mistake?

[COCoug]

So with 2:39 OSU makes a FG to cut it within 3 points.
When the onside kick fails, we have the ball on the 44 yard line and a 3 point lead.
Harris scores almost untouched on the next play, and OSU gets the ball back with 2:29, but down 10 points.

We have seen a couple examples in the NFL and the NCAA (Penn State v, Indiana) where the team that is behind lets the other team score to get the ball back immediately.
I honestly don't think OSU did this on purpose, but the effect was the same. Even though they were down 10 points, they had the ball and a chance to control the game. Of course they don't have the weapons to make that kind of comeback, but other teams do.

My question is- would it have better for Harris to down the ball inside the 1-yard line and let the offense bleed the clock before attempting to score on a 3rd or 4th down? Or should you always just take the points when you can, and trust the defense?

 

[spongeandshoot]

So with 2:39 OSU makes a FG to cut it within 3 points.
When the onside kick fails, we have the ball on the 44 yard line and a 3 point lead.
Harris scores almost untouched on the next play, and OSU gets the ball back with 2:29, but down 10 points.

We have seen a couple examples in the NFL and the NCAA (Penn State v, Indiana) where the team that is behind lets the other team score to get the ball back immediately.
I honestly don't think OSU did this on purpose, but the effect was the same. Even though they were down 10 points, they had the ball and a chance to control the game. Of course they don't have the weapons to make that kind of comeback, but other teams do.

My question is- would it have better for Harris to down the ball inside the 1-yard line and let the offense bleed the clock before attempting to score on a 3rd or 4th down? Or should you always just take the points when you can, and trust the defense?

Rolovich said in the postgame the reason he was looking around on that play was to see if he should score or not...and apparently everyone on the sidelines had their hands up.

I guess as to what should have been done in hindsight would depend on how many timeouts OSU had and if we would be able to bleed the clock all the way. If not, take the points imo

 

[kougkurt]

Watching the replay, it appeared Harris was looking to the sideline to see if they wanted him to do just that.
But always take the points IMO

 

[CougPatrol]

You take the points if it means going up 2 scores.

 

[Cougsocal]

2:38 left, OSU with 2 timeouts. 10 points up or 3 points up, running the clock for 50 seconds to a minute, risking a turnover or a block punt/kick 4 times? The former eliminates the risk of the latter and facing a one possession loss/tie game possibility with OSU in possession deep in its own territory with a 1:30 to play, the likely scenario. Ultimately, it is a no brainer. Harris could have delayed scoring, but even that ran the risk of a bad "taunting" flag, which pulls the TD off the board under current rules. We are talking about Pac-12 officials here.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

You take the points if it means going up 2 scores.

Agree completely. If you can't trust your defense to hold a 10 point lead with 2 minutes to go, you need to be making some enormous changes to your defense.

 

[Glad Cougar]

Absolutely did the right thing to make it a 2 possession lead. I only wish that TD pass Gordon threw vs. the Ducks last year near the end of the game had made it a 2 possession lead, too!

Glad Cougar

 

[dgibbons]

2:38 left, OSU with 2 timeouts. 10 points up or 3 points up, running the clock for 50 seconds to a minute, risking a turnover or a block punt/kick 4 times? The former eliminates the risk of the latter and facing a one possession loss/tie game possibility with OSU in possession deep in its own territory with a 1:30 to play, the likely scenario. Ultimately, it is a no brainer. Harris could have delayed scoring, but even that ran the risk of a bad "taunting" flag, which pulls the TD off the board under current rules. We are talking about Pac-12 officials here.

Don’t forget the possibility, however slim, that we turn the ball over if Harris takes a knee.

 

[CougPatrol]

Don’t forget the possibility, however slim, that we turn the ball over if Harris takes a knee.

However slim? Bro, how long have you been a WSU fan? That possibility always looms large.

 

[jarvis1981]

Harris did the right thing to score. Too much time left and two time outs for OSU.
If he stops short and don't get the TD they would take the FG. Six point lead with about 1:40 left.
Lots of time to go down field and get six.

Just an added point about the defense. They did a great job in the first half and weren't as solid in the 2nd. Give OSU credit for putting things together and adjusting. They do have some offensive weapons. I don't know all the missing players (32) who would have played on defense but that added depth will be helpful in the 2nd half of games.

 

[95coug]

It’s a no brainer. It makes it a 2-score game again. Your D has to fall apart twice to lose (which could happen, but is less likely than giving up 1 score). And there’s no way to know if you’re going to fumble the snap on the next play if you don’t score.
It’s very rare that it makes sense to not take a TD. Maybe it makes sense more often not to kick a FG, but it’s hard to not take 6.

 

[How_did_this_happen?]

However slim? Bro, how long have you been a WSU fan? That possibility always looms large.

Reported for brutal and devastating honesty. 😁

 

[COCoug]

I think given the time, the opponent and the outcome, it is hard to argue with taking the points.

The difference between our game and Indiana vs Penn State was that PSU only had a 1 point lead instead of a 3 point lead, so when Indiana let them score at 2:30 it was still only an 8 point game. If OSU had made their 2-point conversion on the earlier TD, this would have been a 1 point game as well.

With a 3 point lead, I think it would be more of a consideration with 4 or 5 minutes left, to try to limit them to only 1 possession.

 

[chipdouglas]

2:38 left, OSU with 2 timeouts. 10 points up or 3 points up, running the clock for 50 seconds to a minute, risking a turnover or a block punt/kick 4 times? The former eliminates the risk of the latter and facing a one possession loss/tie game possibility with OSU in possession deep in its own territory with a 1:30 to play, the likely scenario. Ultimately, it is a no brainer. Harris could have delayed scoring, but even that ran the risk of a bad "taunting" flag, which pulls the TD off the board under current rules. We are talking about Pac-12 officials here.

100%. You have two choices:

1. Burn no time, guaranteed 10pt lead
2. Burn some time, guaranteed 3pt lead

If we get stopped and settle for a FG, now they've got 1-2 mins, knowing last TD wins

 

[LoneStarsGhost]

So with 2:39 OSU makes a FG to cut it within 3 points.
When the onside kick fails, we have the ball on the 44 yard line and a 3 point lead.
Harris scores almost untouched on the next play, and OSU gets the ball back with 2:29, but down 10 points.

We have seen a couple examples in the NFL and the NCAA (Penn State v, Indiana) where the team that is behind lets the other team score to get the ball back immediately.
I honestly don't think OSU did this on purpose, but the effect was the same. Even though they were down 10 points, they had the ball and a chance to control the game. Of course they don't have the weapons to make that kind of comeback, but other teams do.

My question is- would it have better for Harris to down the ball inside the 1-yard line and let the offense bleed the clock before attempting to score on a 3rd or 4th down? Or should you always just take the points when you can, and trust the defense?

The 1999 Hawaii game was a time I thought we shouldn't score. Up by one with about one minute to go, we ran it in from the one and went up by 8, but still a one score game.

 

[Cougsocal]

The 1999 Hawaii game was a time I thought we shouldn't score. Up by one with about one minute to go, we ran it in from the one and went up by 8, but still a one score game.

Hah! Gesser's first start and handing the opponent the chance to tie! About the only instance where you need to give the "bird in the hand," score a second thought. Did you notice that the intensity levels of Jayden and Jason were pretty similar, and it seemed to pervade the team, particularly on defense. We were 8 pt, dogs to the Rainbows, Jason playing with a broken throwing hand (what was Price thinking) meaning the victory required leaning on the ground game and Gesser's feet as well! Deja vu?

 

[LoneStarsGhost]

Hah! Gesser's first start and handing the opponent the chance to tie! About the only instance where you need to give the "bird in the hand," score a second thought. Did you notice that the intensity levels of Jayden and Jason were pretty similar, and it seemed to pervade the team, particularly on defense. We were 8 pt, dogs to the Rainbows, Jason playing with a broken throwing hand (what was Price thinking) meaning the victory required leaning on the ground game and Gesser's feet as well! Deja vu?

I did draw some comparisons between the two. The strongest for me, aside from the physical attributes, was the poise.

 

[95coug]

The 1999 Hawaii game was a time I thought we shouldn't score. Up by one with about one minute to go, we ran it in from the one and went up by 8, but still a one score game.

I don’t remember the exact situation in that one. Strategically, it probably makes sense not to score in that situation...especially if the D is out of timeouts. but it’s not necessarily easy to kill a full minute from the 1.

The armchair QBs will crucify you either way, so it all comes down to in-game specifics and probabilities, and which units you have the most confidence in at the moment.

 

[LoneStarsGhost]

As I remember, they had no time outs and we scored on first or second down. Plenty of time to run it out and take a knee, unless of course you follow the NY Giants example.

 

[etowncoug]

They had two timeouts. Scoring was the obvious choice. Pretty much sealed the game.

 

[79COUG]

If you take a knee in that situation at the 1, at most it would only give you one extra play. Any DC worth his pay would allow you to score on the next play. Almost a moot point.