It’s been a bit of a frustrating season for Dameon Pierce. Despite tying for third in the SEC with 11 rushing touchdowns on the season and averaging more than six yards per carry, he hadn’t had more than 10 carries in a game. That is, until Saturday’s senior day contest against the Florida State Seminoles.
In the 24-21 victory, he ran the ball 12 times for 62 yards and a touchdown. However, his most notable play was one that ultimately didn’t count on the box score. In the fourth quarter, he ran toward the end zone from the 13-yard line when his helmet was ripped off. In spite of that, Pierce kept running, eventually breaking the plane.
Unfortunately for Pierce, players are not permitted to continue participating in a play once their helmet is removed, and Florida was hit with a 15-yard penalty as a result.
Dameon Pierce: One badass mother f***** pic.twitter.com/8W1M42GMPn
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) November 27, 2021
UF would eventually get in the end zone going for it on fourth and goal from the three, and Pierce got his touchdown after all. He also earned an A+ grade from USA TODAY Sports’ Scooby Axson for his effort.
Football players are a different kind of animal to play the sport, risking their well-being with the possibility of getting hurt on every play. This was once again proven during Saturday’s Florida-Florida State contest.
Early in the fourth quarter, Florida running back Dameon Pierce was running in for a score when he lost his helmet around the 5-yard line.
In college football, once a runner loses his helmet the play is automatically ruled dead. Plus, a player has to leave the field for one play once the helmet comes off.
But Pierce didn’t care about any of those rules as he kept on running into the end zone and was subsequently flagged 15 yards for continuing to run without his helmet.
Pierce scored a 3-yard touchdown with his helmet on and intact a few plays later.
Mini beast mode: A+
It hasn’t been a great season for the Gators, but a win over Florida State with an interim coach is about as good a way to close it out as you could hope for. Pierce, meanwhile, made a statement in his final game in the Swamp.
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