Jaylen Moody gets penalty for pulling Mason Fletcher off pile

Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Jaylen Moody (42) Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama's Jaylen Moody gets penalty for pulling Cincinnati's Mason Fletcher off pile

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 12/31/21

Cincinnati punter Mason Fletcher was all over the first half of the College Football Playoff semifinal game between his Bearcats and the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday.

Fletcher punted a ball for Cincinnati late in the second quarter. Alabama’s JoJo Earle fumbled the return but recovered it. There was a pileup of players as they fought to recover the fumble, and even Fletcher got in on it.

Jaylen Moody was trying to help his teammates and began removing Fletcher from the pile. Fletcher then sort of flopped backward, drawing a penalty.

Punter Mason Fletcher is by far the MVP of the #CottonBowl. pic.twitter.com/dOzeVtIyKh

— TWDTV (@TWDTV1) December 31, 2021

The unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty on Moody pushed Alabama back to its 6-yard line, which is where the Tide began their possession. They still went 94 yards for a touchdown and took a 17-3 lead before halftime.

Bama put up 302 yards in the first half, while Cincinnati had only 76.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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