Matt Linscott blitzed off the end, knocking down the quarterback as he released the football. The linebacker heard a roar from the crowd as a player downfield caught the pass. That was the second such play he made in the regular season finale last November.
The first time he hit Tulane quarterback Jordy Joseph in that game in New Orleans, Joseph completed a touchdown pass. So, when Linscott heard noise from the crowd as he knocked Joseph to the ground late in the fourth quarter, he got that same sinking feeling, believing the Green Wave had scored again and retaken the lead.