Prayers Answered: The Best of Football's Most Dramatic Play
Jauan Jennings is just the latest athlete to be in the right place at the right time. The Tennessee receiver came down with a Joshua Dobbs pass for an improbably victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. Earlier this season, Central Michigan won a game on a Hail Mary and a lateral....on a play they shouldn't have received. Still, those two plays will go down as two of the most memorable plays this season. Today, we take a look back at some of the most famous/infamous/jaw-dropping/surrender-cobra-inducing plays in the 21st century. But first, a look at both Hail Mary plays this season.
There are multiple categories of Hail Mary's, believe it or not. As we have witnessed, there are different variations of this play that can occur. From poor effort to simply being lucky, a team can win in the final seconds in a variety of ways. Let's start out with a basic Hail Mary (which is comical to think about), where a player is just in the right place at the right time, and you really can't blame anything but luck. These plays are the most dramatic, as both teams flip emotions in a heartbeat. The drama of these plays can make turn the impossible into reality, and the celebration into depression.
THE FOOTBALL GODS ARE ON YOUR SIDE
BYU's 2015 season couldn't have had more drama to start the year. Their starting quarterback got hurt, and they turned the offense over to a 22 year old freshman against Nebraska. With little time left, the Cougars had the ball on Nebraska's 42 yard line. You probably know how it's going to end (and my apologies to Husker fans who have to relive this moment).
As if the Cougars season wasn't already filled with memories, the next week they made more. With 54 seconds left and a 4th and 7 presenting itself, Tanner Mangum didn't have many options, but the one he chose was questionable at best. While this one wasn't a game winner (the Cougars added a pick six on the next Boise State drive), it still ranks as a great play when paired with the previous week's theatrics.
DUMB LUCK
2013 was a great season for the Auburn Tigers, as they made it to the national championship game. Getting that far was a roller coaster, as there were two consecutive weeks that propelled them into that position. Everyone remembers the kick-six by Chris Davis (if not, here is your refresher), but the forgotten play that brought them to this moment was against Georgia the week before. On 4th and 18 with 36 seconds left, Nick Marshall threw what may be the worst pass ever attempted in the history of football. Like we're talking backyard, defender gets to five apple, and you panic and don't even look where you're throwing bad. Like a newspaper delivery boy trying to rush through his route bad. And yet, Georgia's defenders ran into each other, tipped the ball up, and the rest is history.
As you may have remembered from a previous TPO flashback, Michigan State was the beneficiary of a lucky bounce in 2011. Now, while this pass wasn't as ridiculous as the above pass, a lucky bounce assisted the Spartans in this game. If you're Michigan State, you may never get another bounce to go your way. If you're Wisconsin, sometimes dumb luck just goes against you and all you can do is shrug your shoulders and move on.
THE SKILLED HAIL MARY
Sometimes, a Hail Mary isn't your typical Hail Mary. Usually this kind of pass is a lob to the endzone, or a jump ball. There are instances where a laser is thrown or a precision pass finds its target, but the risk is greater because there is only one target that has a chance to catch the ball. Arizona's Anu Solomon made up his mind to throw a dart to the endzone. His risk was rewarded and capped off a 36 point 4th quarter for the Wildcats against Cal for a 49-45 win (there the Golden Bears go again not playing defense).
Texas was at the beginning of its demise, but they just didn't know it yet. In a top ten matchup, the Red Raiders had eight seconds to score a touchdown. Graham Harrell was having one of the best seasons in NCAA history passing for Texas Tech, and the Air Raider offense would not be denied. Michael Crabtree got open, and made a play that stunned the Longhorns.
I GOT, I GOT IT.....WAIT HOW DID HE GET IT?
Unfortunately, there are some instances where teams just look bad defending a Hail Mary. Judgement appears to not be in the repertoire of the defenders in this moment, and it ends up costing their team the game. In 2014, East Carolina QB Shane Carden had his team in a position to win, but the defense had to pull out a stop. UCF's QB Justin Holman threw up a prayer that was answered when two Pirates defenders mistimed their jump and where they should position themselves, and Black Knights WR Breshad Parriman received the gift of a lifetime.
USC was trying to erase many dark memories in 2014, but this one certainly didn't help. The Trojans were trying to prove they still were top dogs in the Pac 12, but found themselves in a battle with Arizona State. You know what happens when you let an underdog stick around? Only bad things, USC, only bad things. The second game of the season for USC turned into a Sun Devils party. QB Mike Bercovicci heaved the ball down the field, and it appeared that USC players were trying to field a punt and the game would be over. But in came Sun Devils WR Jaelen Strong and cut through the defenders with the ball to win the game.
This may be the worst game to lose ever. Kentucky was beating LSU in 2002. The Wildcats figured they had the game won since LSU had the ball on their own 25, so they doused their coach with Gatorade for their upset over the Tigers. The stadium was loud, and the fans were eager to rush the field. Words that still haunt Wildcats fans to this day: Bluegrass Miracle. Tigers QB Marcus Randall found Devery Henderson to win the game. The worst part? Fans still rush the field because they thought they won.
PRAYERS NOT FULLY ANSWERED
I've only seen this happen a handful of times. In the inaugural game of the Bahamas Bowl, Western Kentucky held a 49-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter over Central Michigan. Normally, a lead that large would be enough to hang on for the win, but the Hilltoppers wanted to make things interesting I guess. The Chippewas got to within 49-42, and on the last play threw the ball deep, and four laterals later, WR Titus Davis ran the ball into the endzone for a score. All of the momentum had shifted to Central Michigan by then, and they decided to go for two. All that momentum and excitement was quickly ripped away as QB Cooper Rush's pass fell incomplete on the two point conversion. Still, the play that led to that opportunity was crazy and wildly entertaining.
GROUP OF 5 TOP 4
TPO TOP 4
GOPHERS UPDATE
RECORD: 3-1 LAST WEEK: L, 29-26 (OT) at Penn StateThis week's opponent: Iowa Hawkeyes
Opponent record: 3-2
Site: TCF Bank Stadium
Player to shutdown: CJ Beathard
Outlook: See below
GAMES OF THE WEEK
Overall: 51-31 Season: 15-7 Last week: 4-0Due to Hurricane Matthew, some of these games are being postponed/canceled. With that in mind, I did not pick any of those games in jeopardy (LSU at Florida, Florida State at Miami, and Virginia Tech at North Carolina). Instead, enjoy the other great games that will be played on Saturday.
Other games: #6 Houston at Navy, BYU at Michigan State, #21 Colorado at USC, #5 Washington at Oregon
Iowa (3-2) at Minnesota (3-1)
The battle for the Floyd of Rosedale will commence this weekend, and both teams need wins for different reasons. Minnesota needs a win to show it still can be considered a contender in the Big Ten West. Iowa needs a win in general, mostly to make the Kirk Ferentz contract extension jokes go away. The Gophers lost a heartbreaker to Penn State last week, and Iowa after losses to NDSU and Northwestern sandwiched a lousy win over Rutgers. Still, the Hawkeyes are no joke when it comes to competing in the Big Ten, especially in this rivalry game. Iowa came away the victor in a thriller last year, but the Gophers have revenge on their minds. You already I had my mind made up before I started writing this (sorry Kaitlyn).
My pick: Minnesota 27 Iowa 21
Texas (2-2) vs #20 Oklahoma (2-2)----Cotton Bowl
Last year was an absolute stunner. If you told me that the Sooners lost to the Longhorns and still made the playoff, I would have laughed in your face. No offense to Texas, but did you watch them play last year? Sadly, it figures to be more of the same this year as a first week win has quickly been erased by two losses and a struggling defense. Charlie Strong demoted his defensive coordinator and has taken over the defense himself. That only means that he will fix things, or the more likely scenario, this is his final stand as Longhorns coach. Beating anyone twice in a row is difficult, but beating a rival may be too much for Texas. Baker Mayfield and the Sooners offense woke up after sleep walking through the beginning of last weeks game against TCU. That alone will spell trouble for the Longhorns Saturday.
My pick: Oklahoma 42 Texas 21
#9 Tennessee (5-0) at #8 Texas A&M (5-0)
Tennessee survived another dramatic week with a Hail Mary, but they need to figure out how to start faster in the first half. Getting behind in College Station is never advised (unless you're Alabama), and it will be more difficult for the Vols to produce any magic if that happens. QB Joshua Dobbs appears to overthink things in the first half and the pressure isn't high, but plays well when his team needs points in the second half because he isn't thinking as much. RB Jalen Hurd needs help from Dobbs to get running room, as teams have kept him in check for the most part this season. If he can break out, Tennessee should be in good hands. Trevor Knight is having his best season ever, and the Aggies are sure glad to have him. Knight has gelled with his receivers and showed his dual threat abilities to help his team. The defense has also performed well, and has made some key plays in clutch moments. DE Myles Garrett is always someone to watch, but Tennessee will more than likely double team him and let the other 10 defenders beat them. Tennessee's track record isn't good, and that doesn't bode well for a venue that is home to the 12th man.
My pick: Texas A&M 35 Tennessee 30
#1 Alabama (5-0) at #16 Arkansas (4-1)
Just three games after surviving an Ole Miss battle, Alabama is ready for a stiff test for once after destroying Kent State and Kentucky. The Tide went about their business quietly the last two games, which is more than okay with Nick Saban. WR Calvin Ridley is finally starting to break out with freshman QB Jalen Hurts, and the Tide defense is as monstrous as always. Arkansas is starting a rough stretch that includes Bama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida and LSU in consecutive weeks. I'll keep this short, the start of that stretch won't go well for the Razorbacks. Alabama finally has an offense that can put up a lot of points, and the defense basically is still just as good as it was pre-Lane Kiffin, so someone on Arkansas' offense will need to find a weakness in the defense or it will be a long Saturday.
My pick: Alabama 38 Arkansas 20
