The most diehard sports fans searching for live sports to watch on Christmas Eve, hours before present opening had one choice – South Florida against San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl from Honolulu.
One moment in particular caught the eyes of gridiron fans in a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown from USF’s Ta’Ron Keith, where it was far from a linear path to the goal line.
Keith caught the ball at the 7-yard line and faked a pitch to JeyQuan Smith as he crossed the 10.
Then a hole opened up in the middle of the Spartans’ coverage. Keith was touched three times before midfield by defenders and broke through all contact.
Two more members of the San Jose State team got touches on Keith before he got near the goal line, with the final one attempting to push him out of bounds.
Keith dives inside the pilon for the score and is immediately mobbed by his teammates. And college football fans on social media went wild.
Ta’Ron Keith electrified his college football audience on Christmas Eve with a kickoff return
Keith dazzled as he went 93 yards for the first-half score and put the Bulls up two touchdowns
‘The Hawaii Bowl after Christmas Eve dinner and a few drinks is gonna hit like crack cocaine,’ one social-media user said.
‘Double OT in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve for the CFB sickos,’ said Tony Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Premier League club Fulham, and All Elite Wrestling CEO.
‘People treating the Hawaii bowl tonight like it’s the Super Bowl.’
‘Nothing says Christmas Eve quite like USF and San Jose State playing in the Hawaii Bowl.’
‘If you’re with your family and not watching the Hawaii Bowl you’re a casual.’
A collection of social-media messages about Keith’s kick return for South Florida on Tuesday
Keith’s score put the Bulls up two touchdowns over the Spartans. His touchdown was USF’s final trip past the goal line of regulation.
San Jose State would complete the comeback and send the Hawaii Bowl to overtime. However South Florida would win the game in five overtimes with a 41-39 victory.
With the game ending just before midnight, some college football fans could go to sleep and open Santa’s presents on the same day.