The final word heroes of school soccer’s Rivalry Week
Successful a rivalry recreation can cement a legacy. These video games also can create legends. What occurs throughout a school soccer rivalry lives on as among the most iconic moments within the sport.
Typically it is a backup QB who should save the day. Typically it is an unheralded participant who saves his largest efficiency for his crew’s most-hated opponent. Typically it is a participant who completely owned a rival.
From the Iron Bowl to the Territorial Cup to Michigan-Ohio State, every rivalry has “that man.” He’ll get random autograph requests. He’ll by no means purchase a meal in his faculty city. His large play will likely be a snippet in numerous YouTube movies. It is all due to what he did throughout Rivalry Week.
Listed below are just a few of our reporters favourite rivalry heroes:
Soar to a recreation:
Egg Bowl | GT-UGA | Minn-Wisc | Mich-OSU | UF-FSU
Iron Bowl | Tex-A&M | SC-Clemson | ASU-UA | Pur-IU
Tenn-Vandy | UK-Lou| UNC-NCSt | ISU-KSU | UVa-VT
Report: Ole Miss leads 65-47-6
Mississippi State DBs Robert Bean and Eugene Clinton, 1999
The 1999 Egg Bowl will ceaselessly be often known as “The Kick, Decide, Kick,” at the very least in Starkville. Each groups have been nationally ranked, and Mississippi State rallied from a 20-6 deficit to tie the rating with 27 seconds left. There was no time beyond regulation in these days, and as a substitute of taking part in for a tie, Ole Miss determined to throw it down the sector. That is when the twosome of Bean and Clinton etched their names into Mississippi State soccer lore ceaselessly.
“I simply needed to do one thing. Pull a rabbit out of the hat,” Clinton informed tv station WAPT in 2014.
Bean leaped to intercept the cross, however it bounced off his palms and he unintentionally kicked the ball into the air. Clinton was there to intercept it on the Mississippi State 47 and returned it 27 yards the place he was knocked out of bounds on the Ole Miss 26. Scott Westerfield capped the inconceivable 23-20 win with a 44-yard discipline purpose.
“We discuss concerning the pleasure from that one recreation and what it meant to us as people, to these seniors and what it meant to Mississippi State College,” Clinton stated in a narrative with MSU athletics. “After the years, it has grown to be one thing particular and that recreation holds a particular place in my coronary heart.”
— Chris Low
Ole Miss WR Cory Peterson, 1997
Earlier than he was a U.S. senator, Tommy Tuberville was Ole Miss’ head coach in 1997 and made the daring name to go for the win as a substitute of settling for a tie. After quarterback Stewart Patridge led the Rebels on a late 64-yard landing drive, then hit a diving Peterson on a crossing route with the 2-point conversion cross with 25 seconds left, it gave the Rebels a 15-14 win over No. 22 Mississippi State.
Ole Miss went to a bowl recreation for the primary time in 5 seasons and beat Marshall within the Motor Metropolis Bowl. Peterson went to the sideline and instantly vomited after the play.
Peterson, whose father and uncle each performed at Mississippi State, had two different memorable TD catches main the Rebels to wins in 1998 in opposition to LSU and 1999 in opposition to Auburn. He stated the 2-point cross would have been batted away by the Mississippi State defensive sort out however that Ole Miss heart Matt Luke (previously the Ole Miss head coach and now the offensive line coach at Clemson) knocked the sort out down on the play. — Low
Report: Georgia leads 71-41-5
Georgia Tech RB Roddy Jones, 2008
Georgia entered the 2008 season with the No. 1 rating, recent off a Sugar Bowl win, and with a trio of stars — Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and AJ Inexperienced — main the offense. However defeats by the hands of rivals Alabama and Florida had upended expectations, and by the point the Dawgs reached their rivalry recreation with Georgia Tech at season’s finish, a lot of the air was out of the balloon. Little did they know the way a lot worse issues might get — or that the supply methodology for that distress can be from a little bit identified freshman A-back (Jones). It was Georgia Tech’s first 12 months operating the triple possibility below new coach Paul Johnson, and Jones had largely been a job participant within the backfield till the week earlier than, when he emerged with 97 yards on seven carries in opposition to Miami. Towards the Dawgs, nevertheless, he turned probably the most explosive participant on the sector. Jones carried simply 13 instances however ran for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns, together with a 54-yard rating that put Tech up 10 with simply 7:13 to play. The Yellow Jackets went on to win 45-42, and Georgia’s then-head coach Mark Richt fired most of his defensive workers days later.
Jones was a productive again for Georgia Tech for 3 extra years, ending his faculty profession with 2,259 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns, however he by no means had one other recreation fairly like his first expertise with Clear, Previous-Normal Hate. After his soccer profession ended, he turned a radio voice for the Yellow Jackets earlier than touchdown a job with Raycom Sports activities and later with ESPN, the place he is now one of many community’s prime coloration analysts for faculty soccer and different sports activities.
“That recreation modified the trail of my life. Within the second, I had no concept what it meant. I used to be simply fired as much as beat Georgia. However I spent the subsequent three years of my taking part in profession as one of the vital common gamers on the crew due to that recreation in opposition to Georgia. Sixteen years later, it is nonetheless the very first thing Georgia Tech followers need to discuss to me about, and it is among the finest soccer recollections I’ve.” — David Hale
Georgia RB Theron Sapp, 1957
Sapp, a former Georgia two-way star, continues to be remembered because the “Drought Breaker,” after he turned in large play after large play within the Bulldogs’ 7-0 upset victory over Georgia Tech in 1957, which ended the Yellow Jackets’ eight-game profitable streak within the collection.
After Sapp recovered Floyd Faucette’s fumble close to midfield early within the second half, Bulldogs quarterback Charlie Britt related on a 13-yard cross to Jimmy Orr to maneuver to the Tech 26.
Sapp, a bruising fullback and linebacker, took over from there, operating six consecutive instances to maneuver to the Tech 1. Britt was stuffed on a quarterback sneak on third-and-goal, and it appeared the Bulldogs is likely to be turned away.
“After we bought again to the huddle, everyone was yelling, ‘Give it to Sapp! Give it to Sapp!'” Sapp informed the Atlanta Journal-Structure in 2001. “I stated, ‘Yeah, give it to me!'”
The Bulldogs gave the ball to Sapp on fourth down, and he scored on a 1-yard run. It was Georgia’s first landing in opposition to Tech since 1953, and the one landing the Yellow Jackets gave up at Grant Area that season.
Sapp ran for 91 yards on 23 carries. When Sapp returned to the locker room after the sport, in response to the Macon Telegraph, “blood was streaming from his face” and his nostril “seemed like a chunk of bologna that had been freshly sliced.”
It was Georgia’s first win over Tech in Atlanta since All-American Charley Trippi led them to a 33-0 rout in 1945.
Sapp’s No. 40 jersey was retired by Georgia simply over a 12 months later.
“I nonetheless get cellphone calls from individuals and so they nonetheless bear in mind the play and the sport,” Sapp stated in 2001. “The old-timers nonetheless do. It was 40 years in the past, however I will always remember that recreation.” — Mark Schlabach
Report: Wisconsin leads 63-62-8
Gophers security Jeff Rosga, 1993
In 1993, Wisconsin swaggered into the Metrodome at 6-0, with a roster that includes future NFL gamers and set to start a historic run below coach Barry Alvarez. Quarterback Darrell Bevell would cross for 423 yards that day, however Minnesota’s protection repeatedly turned away the Badgers, recording three interceptions and a key stand inside its personal 10-yard line. Rosga returned certainly one of Bevell’s interceptions 55 yards for a landing as Minnesota constructed a 21-0 lead and held on to win 28-21.
Rosga’s pick-six nonetheless follows him — the Ray Christensen-narrated spotlight will dwell ceaselessly — however he remembers a less-glitzy play, when he broke up a cross to Lee DeRamus on a thin submit whereas in single protection late within the recreation.
“You merely look again and also you go, ‘Hey, what is the probabilities that you are going to have the ability to make that play if you’re in Cowl 0 and also you’re simply out on an island with a man that is a NFL vast receiver, to make the play after which type of seal the sport, that is a fairly particular second,” Rosga stated. “It is that previous saying: We bent, however we by no means broke, and we have been in a position to maintain them out of the top zone when it counted.”
Wisconsin wouldn’t lose once more, tying with Ohio State and beating UCLA within the Rose Bowl to complete No. 6 nationally.
“We eradicated their chance for a nationwide championship,” Rosga stated. “Folks definitely keep in mind that recreation, which is all the time fairly particular, even 30 years later.”
Rosga, a director at Life Time Health and a highschool coach who nonetheless lives within the Minneapolis space, nonetheless attends Minnesota video games. The Gophers-Badgers recreation is additional particular in his household, since his brother, Tim, performed for Wisconsin within the late Nineteen Nineties.
“We all the time attempt to watch it collectively,” Jeff stated. “Our children are on the completely different sides of the fence in terms of who they’re rooting for. They’re completely rivals that day.” — Adam Rittenberg
Wisconsin RB Billy Marek, 1974
Marek has a principle on why Minnesota could not cease him within the 1974 rivalry conflict at Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium.
“They could not discover me within the fog,” he stated with amusing. “It was a drizzly, wet, foggy type of day.”
Marek, a Wisconsin Corridor of Famer, set the college’s profession speeding (3,709 yards) and scoring (277 factors) information, and had no higher efficiency than the 1974 Axe recreation. After a sluggish begin to the season, Marek confronted Minnesota on a scorching streak, having eclipsed 200 speeding yards in his earlier two video games. The holes continued to open in opposition to the Gophers and by no means closed. Marek even had a number of lengthy runs known as again on penalties.
“It is the one recreation in my life I used to be really very drained by the point we bought to the fourth quarter,” Marek stated. “They’d taken me out going into the fourth quarter after which they stated they have been going to place me again in. Any individual stated, ‘You are near 300,’ and I used to be like, ‘Oh, OK.’ The place was going loopy.”
Marek completed with 304 speeding yards and 5 touchdowns in a 49-14 win over a Minnesota crew quarterbacked by Tony Dungy. His single-season crew speeding file stood till Ron Dayne broke it in 1996.
He just lately retired after an extended profession in athletic licensing, most just lately with Professional Commonplace and Fanatics, which took him to many prime sporting occasions. He is additionally a daily at Wisconsin video games.
“I’ve all the time had 4 season tickets there, so my household, my youngsters, have grown up going to the video games,” stated Marek, who lives in Chicago. “We all the time have [Minnesota] on the finish of the 12 months, and also you need to end sturdy.” — Rittenberg
Report: Michigan leads 61-51-6
Michigan WR John Kolesar, 1988
Kolesar won’t have ended up at Michigan had it not been for the daddy of Jim Tressel. Kolesar’s dad, Invoice, performed for Tressel’s dad, Lee, at Mentor (Ohio) Excessive. Woody Hayes had simply taken over at Ohio State within the early Fifties. Lee Tressel then did not know what to make of Hayes. So, he inspired Invoice Kolesar to play for Michigan as a substitute.
In the end, Hayes would grow to be a Buckeyes icon. Jim Tressel would coach Ohio State to the 2002 nationwide title. And John Kolesar, who adopted his father to Ann Arbor, would grow to be a Michigan legend.
In 1988, the Wolverines trailed late. However Kolesar returned the following kickoff 59 yards. Then, he hauled in a profitable, 41-yard landing from quarterback Demetrius Brown for the 34-31 victory.
“Kolesar gained the sport for us,” legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler stated afterward. “He actually bailed us out.”
Kolesar’s son, Caden, additionally attended Michigan and performed a key function on particular groups for the Wolverines’ nationwide championship crew final season. John Kolesar stated he has had many Buckeyes followers purchase him a beer over time whereas dwelling within the Cleveland space.
“And the most important query I get is, ‘Oh man, I might always remember [the 1988 game]. Why’d you go to Michigan?'” stated Kolesar, who now resides in Florida, although plans to attend this week’s recreation in opposition to Ohio State. “However there are simply numerous tales of how these two groups are so mirrored and tied to at least one one other.” — Jake Trotter
Ohio State QB Troy Smith, 2006
In 1936, Tippy Dye turned the primary Ohio State quarterback to defeat Michigan three years in a row. Seventy years later, the Buckeyes lastly had a second quarterback obtain the identical feat.
In 2006, Smith clinched the Heisman Trophy by throwing 4 landing passes to 4 completely different receivers, propelling top-ranked Ohio State to a 42-39 victory over No. 2 Michigan. The efficiency gave Smith his third consecutive win over the Wolverines and catapulted Ohio State into the nationwide championship recreation.
In 2005, Smith engineered a livid two-score comeback within the remaining seven minutes, lifting the Buckeyes to a 25-21 win. And, in 2004, Smith rushed for 145 yards to associate with three whole touchdowns in a 37-21 victory.
Over his three wins over the Wolverines, Smith produced 9 touchdowns and 857 passing yards. — Trotter
Report: Florida leads 37-28-2
Florida QB Noah Brindise, 1997
Steve Spurrier has been identified to have a aptitude for the dramatic. However the 1997 recreation in opposition to Florida State took that to a different degree. Going through undefeated and No. 1 Florida State at dwelling, the two-loss Gators had one purpose in thoughts: Wreck the Seminoles’ nationwide championship probabilities. To do it, Spurrier made one of the vital unconventional choices of his profession: He would rotate Brindise, a former walk-on, and Doug Johnson at quarterback. Not each collection.
Each play.
The Gators had scuffled on offense within the second half of the season, and Spurrier had grown pissed off and impatient with all three of his quarterbacks — taking part in a mixture of Johnson, Brindise and freshman Jesse Palmer. To beat the Seminoles, and the No. 3 protection within the nation, Spurrier determined switching between quarterbacks would give them the very best likelihood as a result of he couldn’t solely coach every between performs — he might ship the quarterbacks in with the performs and keep away from any sign stealing.
“We have been like, it sounds type of loopy, however let’s do it,” Brindise recalled.
Florida State took a 17-6 lead, however the Gators stormed again and the groups traded the lead within the fourth quarter. With lower than two minutes to play, down 29-25, Johnson known as for a curl-and-go for Jacquez Inexperienced that went for 62 yards. Fred Taylor scored the profitable landing and Florida gained 32-29 in what continues to be considered one of many biggest video games ever performed within the Swamp. Brindise took the ultimate snap to shut out the win, and nonetheless has that ball in his workplace.
“It was a type of magical nights,” stated Brindise, who now works in medical system gross sales. “I nonetheless get it fairly often from Gator followers who inform me, ‘That was the best recreation I’ve ever seen.’ I believe my precise function in serving to us win has been inflated fairly a bit over time, however it undoubtedly feels particular that I used to be part of that.” — Andrea Adelson
FSU QB Marcus Outzen, 1998
Coming into its recreation in opposition to Florida in 1998, Florida State knew it needed to win to maintain its nationwide championship hopes alive. After Chris Weinke was misplaced for the season due to a neck damage in early November, these championship hopes rode with Outzen, affectionately often known as “The Rooster” for his crimson hair and fiery persona. Outzen had been buried on the Seminoles’ depth chart, however a succession of accidents landed him because the starter when Weinke went down. He gained his first begin in opposition to Wake Forest, however the offense performed inconsistently. The fourth-ranked Gators would supply a a lot larger check. Actually, there have been so many questions on how the Seminoles would play with Outzen behind heart, they entered the sport as underdogs.
A pregame fracas — wherein Doug Johnson threw a ball that almost hit Bobby Bowden — solely served to underscore the animosity between the 2, and the excessive stakes. Florida jumped out to a fast lead, however the recreation turned on a fluky play within the third quarter. Florida security Marquand Manuel jumped in entrance of an Outzen cross, solely to let it slip by means of his palms. Peter Warrick caught it on the deflection, placed on just a few strikes, bought a powerful block from Snoop Minnis and scored a 32-yard landing. The Seminoles by no means trailed once more, shutting out Florida within the second half to win 23-12. Outzen completed 13-of-22 for 167 yards and a rating, and he used his legs to maintain the Gators protection off stability, too, because the Seminoles locked up their spot within the nationwide title recreation in opposition to Tennessee.
Within the locker room afterward, Bowden sang an previous folks quantity a few Rooster in entrance of the complete crew. Outzen stated afterward, “It is a dream come true for me.” Outzen died earlier this 12 months at age 46 from a uncommon immune deficiency dysfunction. His place in Florida State lore, nevertheless, won’t ever be forgotten. — Adelson
Report: Alabama leads 50-37-1
Auburn DB David Langner, 1972
Langner returned two blocked punts for touchdowns on back-to-back possessions within the fourth quarter, each blocked by Invoice Newton, to rally Auburn previous No. 2 and unbeaten Alabama in a 17-16 win at Legion Area in a 1972 recreation that may ceaselessly be often known as “Punt Bama Punt.”
The Crimson Tide led 16-3 with just below six minutes to play when Langner returned the primary blocked punt 25 yards for a landing and the second 20 yards for a landing with lower than two minutes remaining. Langner additionally intercepted a last-ditch cross by Alabama to seal the win. It was Alabama’s solely SEC loss between 1970 and 1976, and it was one other decade earlier than Auburn would beat Alabama once more.
“Each of the balls seemed similar to me,” Langner stated after the sport. “They simply bounced into my palms. All I needed to do was decide them up and run. It was by far the best thrill I’ve ever had.”
The Alabama punter that day was Greg Gantt. He and Langner went to highschool collectively at Woodlawn Excessive in Birmingham. Sadly, they each died younger and solely 2½ years aside, Gantt in 2011 of problems from coronary heart illness and diabetes, and Langner in 2014 of most cancers. — Low
Alabama DB Rory Turner, 1984
The Iron Bowl is crammed with its personal nicknames for sure video games, and the star of the “Incorrect Approach Bo” recreation in 1984 was Alabama security Rory Turner. Alabama was on its solution to its first dropping season in 27 years, making the 17-15 upset of No. 11 Auburn and Bo Jackson even sweeter. On fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 3:27 to play, Auburn coach Pat Dye determined to go for the landing as a substitute of kicking the quick discipline purpose. Jackson misheard the playcall and went the flawed manner, and Brent Fullwood was left with out a lead blocker. Turner drove Fullwood out of bounds for a 3-yard loss.
Fullwood had earlier pulled Auburn inside two factors on a 60-yard landing run. The Alabama college students have been sitting in that finish zone for that fourth-down play, and it was so loud that Jackson misheard the decision on the line of scrimmage and left Fullwood one-on-one with Turner.
After the sport, Turner famously informed reporters, “I simply waxed the dude.” Auburn nonetheless had an opportunity to win it within the remaining seconds, however Robert McGinty’s 42-yard discipline purpose try was no good. — Low
Report: Texas leads 76-37-5
Texas DB Mark Berry, 1990
Within the mid-Eighties, a proud Texas soccer program was mired in mediocrity. Fred Akers went 20-14-1 in his remaining three seasons between 1984-86 and was changed by David McWilliams, who then went 16-18 in his first three seasons. Even worse, Texas was on a six-game dropping streak to Texas A&M over that span. The Longhorns have been misplaced.
By 1990, there was hope. Unranked within the preseason polls, the Longhorns beat No. 21 Penn State within the opener, earlier than falling 29-22 to Colorado (which might go on to assert the nationwide title after an Orange Bowl win over Notre Dame). Heading into the rivalry recreation in opposition to the Aggies, the Longhorns have been 9-1 and on what they known as the “Shock the Nation” tour after beating No. 4 Oklahoma in Dallas and No. 3 Houston at dwelling. The Aggies got here into the sport unranked regardless of being 9-2-1 with highway losses to LSU and Houston by a mixed 14 factors and a tie in opposition to Baylor. They’d gained 4 straight heading into Austin with bragging rights on the road.
Darren Lewis, who had grow to be the Southwest Convention’s main rusher, had 25 carries for 150 yards in opposition to Texas that day and have become simply the fifth participant ever to cross 5,000 profession speeding yards. With 3:46 left, Aggies QB Bucky Richardson, who had simply scored on a 32-yard possibility keeper, pulled A&M to inside 28-27, and coach R.C. Slocum opted to go for 2 and get the win in Austin. The Aggies ran an alternative choice play, kicked it out proper to Lewis, and nook Mark Berry discovered himself one-on-one with the star operating again, an previous good friend he grew up with in Dallas. Lewis slipped briefly, however Berry shed a block and dropped Lewis.
“After I bought to Darren, I might see it in his eyes,” Berry stated after the sport. “He had nowhere to go however over me. We’re good pals, however this time I gained.”
The sort out was the distinction within the recreation, ending the Longhorns’ dropping streak to the Aggies.
“I believe that is the one sort out we had on Darren Lewis all day,” McWilliams stated. “But when I needed to decide a time to have one, that may be it.”
Berry went on to grow to be a firefighter, a paramedic and returned to Texas in 2002 to get his diploma in social work. He lives in Dallas, and his spouse, Tamejia, is the assistant fireplace chief of Dallas Fireplace Rescue and the highest-ranking girl within the division. —Dave Wilson
Texas A&M WR Matt Bumgardner, 1999
In 1999, Texas A&M’s bonfire, an annual custom earlier than the Aggies performed Texas, collapsed per week earlier than the sport, killing 12 Aggies who have been engaged on the stack of logs and injuring 27 extra.
The groups performed the sport the next week, an emotionally fraught scene in School Station in entrance of the most important crowd ever to look at a soccer recreation in Texas at that time. The No. 24 Aggies had simply misplaced 37-0 at Nebraska two weeks prior, whereas No. 7 Texas got here in on a five-game profitable streak, recent off a 58-7 win over Texas Tech.
A&M gamers had missed two days of follow following the tragedy, together with serving to to elevate logs off the pile whereas serving to seek for survivors. Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum was involved all week about his crew sporting down because of the real-world feelings concerned. And by the half, the Aggies trailed 16-6. However by late within the recreation, Texas A&M was driving. With 5:02 left within the recreation, quarterback Randy McCown was imagined to throw left, however he seemed proper and noticed his roommate, Matt Bumgardner. Bumgardner was an enormous, bodily receiver, however he had caught simply three touchdowns in his Aggies profession. McCown lofted it up, and Bumgardner, who later informed the Houston Chronicle that he momentarily misplaced the ball within the afternoon shadows, retrieved it, catching a 14-yard TD cross and giving the Aggies a 20-16 lead.
A&M’s Jay Brooks pressured a fumble by Main Applewhite, and linebacker Brian Gamble recovered it to complete off the sport with an emotional scene as he raised his arms to the sky in per week the Aggies desperately wanted it.
Bumgardner informed the Chronicle in 2019 that individuals nonetheless inform him how essential that catch was to them.
“You possibly can see how a lot that win means to followers and former college students, individuals who have been watching it with their moms and dads and brothers and sisters at dwelling,” Bumgardner stated. “Everybody was hurting quite a bit — the entire Aggie group was hurting.”
Bumgardner went on to work as a conduct specialist for emotionally unstable youngsters in faculties within the Houston space and ran a nonprofit aiding college students with particular must get gear they want. “The children I’ve labored with? They’ve put my life into perspective,” he stated. — Wilson
Report: Clemson leads 73-43-4
Clemson WR Rod Gardner, 2000
For South Carolina followers, the play will ceaselessly be often known as “The Push-Off.” That is not how Rod Gardner — or anybody in Clemson orange, for that matter — remembers it, although.
The Gamecocks led 14-13 with simply 19 seconds to play of their tilt with rival Clemson on Nov. 18, 2000. The Tigers, led by QB Woody Dantzler, have been deep in their very own territory, going through a third-and-12. They wanted a miracle. Gardner delivered with both one of the vital outstanding catches in class historical past or, for the parents from Columbia, one of the vital egregious non-calls within the rivalry’s historical past. Dantzler heaved a cross deep down the best sideline, and Gardner — with three South Carolina defenders surrounding him — hauled within the catch for a 50-yard acquire. Clemson sprinted to the road of scrimmage, spiked the ball, then booted a brief discipline purpose for a 16-14 win.
The Tigers anointed the play “The Catch II,” the inheritor obvious to the unique “Catch,” made by Jerry Butler in a 1977 win over the Gamecocks.
Gardner turned a first-round draft decide the subsequent spring, going fifteenth general to the Washington Redskins. He completed his rookie season with 741 yards — together with 208 in a recreation in opposition to Carolina that 12 months — and 4 touchdowns, then blossomed in 2002, catching 71 passes for 1,006 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2003, he even bought some work at QB, throwing two TDs. After 4 seasons with Washington, he spent elements of 2005 and 2006 with Kansas Metropolis, Carolina and Inexperienced Bay earlier than retiring from soccer. He’d later star on season 36 of “The Superb Race” along with his spouse. They completed third.
“I did have my hand on his shoulder. However I by no means pushed him. By no means prolonged,” Gardner informed The Athletic in 2020. “I simply had my hand on his shoulder to really feel the place he was at, and when the ball got here, I made the catch and it was recreation over. And it was the very best play ever.” — Hale
South Carolina QB Mike Maintain, 1984
In 1984, QB Mike Maintain had alternated with Allen Mitchell at QB that season then helped rally the Gamecocks from a 21-3 deficit on the highway in opposition to Clemson.
With seconds left, Maintain scored the profitable 1-yard landing, giving South Carolina its first win at Clem
It was a wild end, as Maintain’s TD tied the sport after he accomplished an enormous 36-yard cross a couple of minutes earlier. However the Gamecocks wanted the additional level to win it. Scott Hagler hooked the PAT to the left, however Clemson had 12 males on the sector. Hagler bought one other likelihood and made it this time. Clemson bought the ball again however could not get a primary down.
The sport ended with Maintain taking a knee and famously handing the ball to large Clemson DT William “Fridge” Perry, who would not take it. There’s an iconic photograph of that second.
Maintain later appeared in “The Program” and “The Waterboy” as a school quarterback. — Low
Report: Arizona leads 51-45-1
Arizona State DL James Brooks, 2010
At roughly 270 kilos when taking part in for the Solar Devils, one would anticipate that defensive finish James Brooks’ athleticism can be proven horizontally greater than vertically. But on a Saturday evening in Tucson through the 2010 season, Brooks’ leaping skills saved ASU not as soon as however twice in a double-overtime thriller.
When QB Nick Foles led the Wildcats to what seemed like a game-winning drive with 30 seconds left within the fourth quarter, Arizona wanted solely a PAT to emerge victorious. However because the ball was kicked, Brooks leapt within the air and blocked it, sending the sport into time beyond regulation. In time beyond regulation, Brooks did it once more. Arizona wanted to match ASU’s landing within the second time beyond regulation interval, however after it bought into the top zone, all of it got here down to a different PAT. Brooks as soon as once more flew by means of the air, and this time his block was a walk-off that put Arizona State at six wins and despatched it to a bowl recreation.
“I’m going down within the books as a Solar Satan ceaselessly,” Brooks stated on the time. “Extra essential than getting the glory, I get to be round ASU and the historical past books ceaselessly.”
Brooks left the crew the next 12 months for private causes, however he has carved out a profession for himself within the European League of Soccer. Brooks first performed for the Cologne Falcons in 2013 and has been suiting up at defensive finish for the Prague Lions for the previous 4 seasons. — Paolo Uggetti
Arizona Okay Max Zendejas, 1985
As a place-kicker, you aren’t going to earn the nickname “Solar Satan killer” with out coming by means of in some essential rivalry spots. Zendejas, who spent 4 years in Tucson, did it not simply as soon as however a number of instances in opposition to an ASU crew that, at one level, included his brother, Luis.
In 1983, the 2 confronted off in opposition to one another in that 12 months’s Territorial Cup. Luis hit three discipline objectives throughout that recreation, and a late landing put ASU up 15-14. Max wasn’t carried out. With time expiring, the opposite Zendejas made his mark on the sport by splitting the uprights from 45 yards as time expired, giving the Wildcats a rivalry win.
Two years later, Zendejas did it once more. This time, with the Solar Devils being a win away from a Rose Bowl berth and main 13-3, Zendejas hit two clutch discipline objectives within the fourth quarter: a 57-yard bomb that matched the college file and tied the sport at 13 in addition to a 32-yarder to place the Wildcats forward for good. That 12 months Zendejas led the convention with 22 discipline objectives and was named the crew’s MVP. He went on to be drafted within the fourth spherical in 1986 by the Cowboys and spent 4 seasons within the NFL with 4 completely different groups.
“Enjoying in opposition to ASU, kicking in opposition to my brother and placing them out of the Rose Bowl, there have been loads of nice recollections right here,” Zendejas stated in an interview with Arizona Soccer earlier this 12 months. — Uggetti
Report: Purdue leads 77-42-2
Purdue LB Mike Marks, 1980
Each time Purdue followers meet Mike Marks, they inevitably convey up the 1980 Bucket recreation with Indiana and his heroic play to thwart a Hoosiers’ comeback. Purdue had gained 4 straight within the collection and was sending off record-setting quarterback Mark Herrmann. However Indiana almost spoiled the occasion after Steve Corso, son of coach Lee Corso, hauled in a landing cross with 17 seconds left to make the rating 24-23.
Lee Corso went for 2 and the win, however Marks, a standout linebacker, deflected Tim Clifford’s cross supposed for Steve Corso. Indiana recovered an onside kick and tried a 59-yard discipline purpose for the win, however Marks once more bought his palms on the ball.
“It is wonderful how many individuals bear in mind it,” Marks stated. “Most gamers do not assume, they react. That is what it was in that second. I had a duty, I knew what it was, and I occurred to be on the proper place on the proper time.”
Marks remembered Lee Corso coming into Purdue’s locker room after the sport to deal with the crew.
“He was so gracious,” Marks stated. “I bear in mind him standing up on a bench in entrance of the lockers and stated, ‘You guys deserve this nice recreation. It will go down in historical past.'”
Marks coincidently performed “the very best recreation of my life” the week earlier than in opposition to Michigan, recording 26 tackles, an interception, a fumble restoration and a blocked kick. However Purdue misplaced 26-0. His efficiency within the Bucket recreation sticks. — Rittenberg
Indiana Okay Austin Starr, 2007
As an oral surgeon in Bloomington, Indiana, former Indiana kicker Austin Starr typically meets sufferers with connections to the Hoosiers’ program and particularly his most memorable second, a 49-yard discipline purpose to beat Purdue within the 2007 Bucket recreation. However one just lately introduced him full circle.
He was eradicating the knowledge enamel of a young person whose mom went into labor on Nov. 17, 2007, apparently from pleasure or anxiousness round Starr’s kick.
“I like and can by no means get sick of listening to when individuals have been at when it occurred,” Starr stated.
His biology professor emailed him the day after the sport, noting that Starr was answerable for interrupting a peaceable second at a campus bus cease due to the “huge roar from the North” at Memorial Stadium. One other affected person of Starr’s was driving and needed to pull over due to nerves — and to get a transparent sign for broadcaster Don Fischer’s name.
Starr’s kick capped off an emotional 12 months for Indiana, which misplaced coach Terry Hoeppner to mind most cancers that June. Hoeppner’s purpose was to “Play 13,” a thirteenth recreation that may finish Indiana’s 13-year drought with out a bowl look. The Purdue win clinched the postseason.
“It meant a lot to me,” stated Starr, who went to Indiana’s dental faculty after which did his residency at Ohio State, and nonetheless sees Hoeppner’s widow, Jane, in Bloomington. “Coach Hoeppner all the time preached about crew and household and unity and coming collectively to realize a typical purpose. I’ve utilized so many ideas since I used to be an athlete right here at IU to life. The one phrase I’m going again to is gratitude.” — Rittenberg
Report: Tennessee leads 80-33-5
Tennessee DB Eric Berry, 2008
It was Phillip Fulmer’s final recreation as Tennessee’s coach in 2008, because the college introduced earlier within the season that he wouldn’t return. Vanderbilt was within the midst of certainly one of its greatest seasons and favored within the recreation for the primary time since 1984. The Vols, assured of a dropping season, weren’t going to a bowl and have been limping to the end of the season in Nashville.
Eric Berry, a future School Soccer Corridor of Famer, was an enormous a part of ensuring that day that his Corridor of Fame coach went out a winner. Berry returned an interception 45 yards for a landing within the first half, and Tennessee gained 20-10 regardless of finishing simply 4 passes within the recreation.
Berry set an SEC single-season file that 12 months with 265 interception return yards. — Low
Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, 2005
Vanderbilt snapped a 22-game dropping streak in opposition to Tennessee in 2005 and gained 28-24, the primary time the Commodores had overwhelmed the Vols since 1982 and the primary time at Neyland Stadium since 1975. The hero of the sport was receiver Earl Bennett, a freshman who caught all three passes and accounted for each yard within the game-winning drive, together with a 6-yard TD cross with 1:11 left.
Bennett caught 14 passes that day, the begin to a stellar profession at Vanderbilt. He set the SEC single-season file for receptions by a freshman that season (79), none larger than his remaining catch.
Throwing it again to Jay Cutler’s game-winning landing cross to Earl Bennett to seal our 2005 win over Tennessee. #RTI | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/DpwOUaAw8G
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandyFootball) August 14, 2020
“You see grown males crying and also you understand how lengthy it has been since we have gained,” Vandy quarterback Jay Cutler stated after the sport. “It tells us how a lot it means to this program.”
Bennett continues to be at Vandy. He was promoted to senior affiliate athletic director this 12 months, after returning to his alma mater in 2021 in a participant developmental function on the soccer workers. After incomes his undergraduate and grasp’s levels at Vanderbilt, he bought his doctorate at Houston. — Low
Report: Kentucky leads 20-15
Louisville RB Tony Stallings, 2000
In the one time beyond regulation recreation in Governor’s Cup historical past, Louisville prevailed because of a standout effort from tailback Tony Stallings, who sealed the win with a 25-yard scamper up the center for a landing, strolling off with the victory late within the evening after the sport had been suspended because of rain for greater than an hour.
The Cardinals trailed for a lot of the sport however took a 20-19 lead late within the third quarter, however Kentucky’s Marlon McCree scooped up a fumble and returned it for a rating to provide UK the lead once more. Louisville tied it late, however McCree seemed to provide the Wildcats the win when he recovered one other fumble, returning it to the Louisville 2. However the Cardinals’ protection held and Curry Burns blocked an 18-yard discipline purpose attempt to ship the sport to OT. Anthony Floyd picked off Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen within the first body of time beyond regulation, and Stallings got here on to attain the sport winner on Louisville’s first play of additional time.
Stallings completed the 2000 season with 810 speeding yards and wrapped his Louisville profession in 2001 with 1,569 scrimmage yards. He hung out taking part in soccer within the Canadian, Area and European soccer leagues, however retired along with his sights set on an appearing profession.
Now going by T.C. Stallings, his appearing credit embrace “Secretariat,” “Battle Room” and “The Watchers.” He has additionally revealed a number of books and is a Christian minister. — Hale
Kentucky QB Stephen Johnson, 2017
Kentucky entered the sport, because the gamers famous beforehand, with an 8% likelihood to win in response to ESPN’s metrics, Stephen Johnson recalled. He was the junior faculty switch QB. On the other sideline was the eventual Heisman winner and two-time NFL MVP, Lamar Jackson. It was a rivalry recreation, however it was additionally a Cinderella story for the Wildcats. Kentucky’s offense got here to life with Johnson on the helm, and the Wildcats took a 38-31 lead early within the fourth quarter. However Jackson nonetheless had loads of magic left, tying the sport at 38 with 7:44 to play and threatening the win with a first-and-goal on the UK 9 with 1:45 to go. However Jackson fumbled on the subsequent play, and Johnson drove Kentucky 60 yards on seven performs to arrange the game-winning 47-yard discipline purpose. He completed with three landing passes and a career-high 338 passing yards within the 41-38 win.
Johnson’s Kentucky profession was marred by accidents, together with surgical procedure on a knee and each shoulders, and his faculty profession ended after he was hit — late, by his estimation — within the Music Metropolis Bowl in 2017. Johnson introduced quickly afterward that he was retiring from soccer slightly than pursuing a professional profession, and he went on to spend the subsequent seven years dwelling in his hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, California. He just lately moved to Michigan, the place his spouse will pursue a doctorate at College of Michigan.
“After I’m again in Kentucky, individuals all the time speak about that recreation and the Tennessee recreation [from 2017]. However that recreation specifically, that stood out probably the most as a result of we have been such an underdog and it was a rivalry recreation, so it made it that a lot sweeter.” — Hale
Report: UNC leads 68-39-6
UNC RB Giovani Bernard, 2012
The 2012 rivalry recreation between North Carolina and NC State was back-and-forth all through, with UNC leaping to a 15-0 lead, NC State combating again to take a 35-25 lead within the fourth quarter, then the Heels connecting on a Bryn Renner TD cross and a discipline purpose to tie the sport with simply 1:24 left to play. NC State’s ensuing drive stalled, and the Wolfpack lined as much as punt with 30 seconds remaining in regulation, and for causes unknown nonetheless, Tom O’Brien’s crew punted on to Giovani Bernard.
The UNC star returned the kick 74 yards, crossing the purpose line with 13 seconds to play. Bernard completed with an astounding line: 135 speeding yards and two scores, 95 receiving yards and the 74-yard punt return TD for an all-purpose yardage whole of 304. Bernard stole the present from an in any other case ridiculous QB battle wherein NC State’s Mike Glennon threw for 467 yards and 5 touchdowns and Renner threw for 358.
The victory additionally snapped a five-game profitable streak for the Wolfpack, handing the Heels their first win within the collection since 2006.
Bernard completed that 2012 season because the ACC’s runner-up for participant of the 12 months honors, racking up 12 speeding touchdowns, 5 receiving and two on punt returns. He completed his UNC profession with 2,481 speeding yards and three,596 all-purpose yards. Bernard entered the NFL draft after the 2012 season, and he was chosen within the second spherical — thirty seventh general — by the Cincinnati Bengals. Bernard had a 10-year NFL profession with the Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, speeding for greater than 3,700 yards and totaling 36 profession touchdowns earlier than retiring after the 2022 season. — Hale
On one sideline was a future first-round NFL draft decide and beginning QB for the New England Patriots, Drake Maye. On the opposite was a fourth-string legacy who’d thought-about quitting the crew just a few months earlier. Guess which one turned the hero of the 2022 UNC-NC State showdown? Maye by no means fairly discovered his footing for the Tar Heels in opposition to an attacking Wolfpack protection, however Ben Finley — the youthful brother of former Pack star Ryan Finley, who’d opened the 12 months behind three different gamers on the depth chart — was excellent, throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns within the 30-27 double OT win that marked the fruits of a ridiculous season of overcome adversity for each the QB and the crew.
Finley bought the beginning in opposition to UNC solely after Devin Leary and MJ Morris have been harm and Jack Chambers was benched. All three had already recorded a win for the Wolfpack, making Finley the fourth member of the depth chart so as to add a victory to his résumé that season.
“I used to be operating round attempting to hug everybody,” Finley stated after the sport.
“It is good to maintain the Finleys undefeated right here,” NC State coach Dave Doeren stated.
He began NC State’s bowl loss to Maryland a month later earlier than transferring to Cal. He began three video games for the Bears, too, and transferred once more this season to Akron, the place he has thrown for two,410 yards and 14 touchdowns. — Hale
Report: Iowa State leads 53-50-4
Kansas State QB Adam Helm, 1999
Iowa State gained 332 yards within the first half and led 28-7 at halftime. Invoice Snyder needed to bench starter Jonathan Beasley after he went 3-for-10 for twenty-four yards and an interception.
Of their 1999 Large 12 opener, Kansas State’s season threatened to go off the rails. However backup QB Adam Helm steadied the ship; he scored on the finish of an 80-yard drive to convey the Wildcats inside 28-14, and David Allen’s 94-yard punt return introduced them nearer. The sport was tied when Helm plunged in for a 1-yard rating with 2:34 left, and the Wildcats survived. Beasley would discover his footing, and Okay-State would roll to 11-1 and end sixth within the AP ballot. However the complete season may need fallen aside in September if Helm hadn’t commanded the college’s largest-ever second-half comeback.
Helm’s profession ended with simply 489 passing yards, however the household lineage continues in Manhattan: His nephew, Beau Palmer, walked onto the crew in 2020 and has made two profession begins with 28 profession tackles for the Wildcats. — Invoice Connelly
His first carry went for 71 yards and a landing. His fifth, 77 yards and one other rating. Late within the third quarter, he burst straight up the center for 60 extra yards and a 3rd rating. Abu Sama III has so far crafted an honest profession for himself at Iowa State, speeding over 1,000 profession yards with three 100-yard video games as a part of a secure of backs over two seasons. However in what needs to be thought-about probably the most aesthetically pleasing Farmageddon matchup ever performed — it was an evening recreation in a snow storm — Sama rushed for 276 yards in simply 16 rushes, carrying the Cyclones to a 42-35 win.
You maybe cannot name it a life-changing second; he is not even ISU’s main rusher this season. However it doesn’t matter what occurs from right here, Sama’s time in Ames will likely be remembered due to a single evening in Manhattan. — Connelly
Report: Virginia Tech leads 61-38-5
Virginia DL Eli Hanback, 2019
Eli Hanback grew up in Ashland, Virginia, as an enormous Virginia fan, dreaming about someday taking part in for the Cavaliers. Throughout his childhood, the rivalry with Virginia Tech was not a lot of a rivalry: Going again to 1999, the Hokies had gained each matchup besides one, and the streak continued as soon as Hanback bought to Virginia and earned a beginning job on the defensive position.
That’s, till 2019.
All the season, Hanback stated the Virginia motto was, “Beat Tech,” after a heartbreaking time beyond regulation loss the earlier season. Each groups went into the sport 8-3, with veteran quarterbacks on both sides main the way in which. It went back-and-forth the whole lot of the second half. Virginia went up 33-30 with 1:23 to play, however needed to defend dual-threat quarterback Hendon Hooker to shut out the sport. Virginia followers had grown accustomed to anticipating the worst, however Hanback ensured there can be a special ending this time round.
On third-and-21 from the Virginia Tech 7, Mandy Alonso sacked Hendon Hooker, forcing the ball free in the long run zone. Hanback noticed it and pounced for a game-sealing landing. When he bought up, he raised the ball triumphantly into the air. Virginia secured a 39-30 win — its first over the Hokies since 2003 — and a spot within the ACC championship recreation.
“That streak was hanging over my head ceaselessly, and as a participant I might lastly have an effect on it in my final 12 months, in my final recreation at Scott Stadium,” stated Hanback, who works at Capital One in Virginia.” I do not assume I would ever in my wildest goals would’ve imagined doing that.” — Adelson
Virginia Tech WR Jermaine Holmes, 1995
The play that may dwell ceaselessly as one of many biggest moments in Virginia Tech historical past was meant for receiver Jermaine Holmes.
How else to clarify how he ended up with the game-winning rating? The Hokies trailed rival Virginia in 1995 with lower than a minute left within the recreation. That’s when probably the most memorable swap in class historical past occurred. Holmes, normally the slot receiver, switched with Cornelius White and went to the skin. White had run a number of deep routes and wanted a break.
The decision got here in to quarterback Jim Druckenmiller. He was going to throw it for Holmes.
“When Jim signaled that play, it was a type of moments the place you understand you are about to attain a landing, and it will be enormous,” Holmes stated.
Certainly, the hook-and-go name — which concerned a pump pretend to make Virginia chew — went to Holmes, streaking down the center of the sector. It landed completely into his arms in the long run zone — a 32-yard landing catch that helped the Hokies win 36-29.
Virginia Tech followers stormed the sector. Sure, they stormed Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, in what turned out to be a program defining win. The Hokies made it to the Sugar Bowl, starting their stretch of dominance below then-coach Frank Beamer.
Holmes has his Sugar Bowl jersey and a photograph of his game-winning catch hanging up in his dwelling. A second he calls extraordinary as a result of “it might have very nicely been Cornelius in that place.”
“That is a type of moments that may dwell on ceaselessly and I’m simply proud to be part of it,” stated Holmes, who’s now a undertaking supervisor operating medical trials. “God put me in that place to have the ability to have that second, and it is cool to have the ability to have conversations about it 29 years later.” — Adelson
