re: simple solution

I was under the impression that the offense had to "come set" for at least one second before a legal snap could take place. Does anyone have any recollection of a team in a similar situation actually getting ANY play off in that situation?

The decision to let the clock run to 9 sec is the true game losing move by the coaching staff. (And of course not just banging it up the middle 3 plays in a row from FG range )