AAC acknowledges game-changing mistake by its replay officials

The American Athletic Conference said Saturday that replay officials in the East Carolina-Tulsa game erred when over turning a fumble call that would have ended what turned out to be the game winning drive for Tulsa.

Tulsa scored the go-ahead touch down with 29 seconds left late Friday in what turned out to be a 34-30 victory against the Pirates at home. But it came after an apparent fumble by a Tulsa ball-carrier and recovery by EC U with 1:52 left in the game.

The ruling on the field was a turnover, but replay officials determined the runner had re gained control of the ball before he was down, and when it came loose the play should have been over.

The AAC said it reviewed the game and found the runner did not re gain possession of the ball, and the ruling on the field a warding the ball to East Carolina should not have been reversed.

The conference said it communicated its findings to East Carolina and Tulsa, but it gave no word on whether there play officials would face a penalty.

T.K. Wilkerson scored the ahead go touch down on an 11- play, 75-yard final drive that was also aided by a fourth-down catch that appeared to hit the ground.

EC Uh ada chance in the closing seconds, but Holt on Ah le rs’ pass into the end zone was bat ted to the ground.

Zach Smith was 19-of-37 passing for 253 yards with two touchdowns and two intercept ions for Tulsa (3-1,3-0 American), which has won four straight conference games forthe first time.

Ah le rs completed 38 of 50 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns for East Carolina (1-4, 1-3).