Part 3/6:
In moments like this, the presence of a rules expert, Matt Austin, becomes paramount. His analysis provided clarity to viewers as he remarked on the nature of the hit, describing Stovall as a "defenseless receiver." Austin speculated that the play might indeed warrant a targeting call due to the timing of the hit, occurring right as Stovall turned to secure the ball, a context that typically influences such rulings.
The stakes were monumental; should the targeting be called, it would drastically alter the last 63 seconds of a deadlocked tie game by potentially removing a key defender from the field.