|
|
Post by gian3074 on Apr 13, 2010 19:59:30 GMT -6
In my junior year we traveled to Cleveland to face one of their best teams (my team was from Western New York, near Buffalo). At halftime we were losing 13-7, and this game was wearing down on us hard. Our senior captain and center even shouted for some water to wash the blood off of his jersey before the refs could see it. We shut them down in the second half and won 28-13, and it was described as the best win for any team in my part of the state. That week USA Today ranked us #22 in the country. One of our seniors was also being heavily recruited by Ohio State, and I saw on the internet that Jim Tressel was actually at the game. It was without a doubt the best game I was ever a part of.
|
|
coachriley
Junior Member
"Tough times don't last; Tough people do."
Posts: 406
|
Post by coachriley on Apr 13, 2010 20:07:42 GMT -6
My sophomore year, we were in the state championship game. We had done very well the whole season but our offense just couldn't put anything together and our defense could barely slow them down. Well the second half started and the coaches decided to put a sophomore in at middle linebacker. He was responsible for the first two or three tackles of that drive and we thought we had some hope on defense. Well that continued on till about 2 minutes left in the third quarter and we were down 31-7. We were able to score and totally took control of the momentum to win 35-31, sealing the win with an interception by our season interception leader with about 18 seconds left. Truly amazing to feel all of those different emotions on the sideline and be part of that game.
|
|
|
|
Post by gian3074 on Apr 13, 2010 20:15:06 GMT -6
My sophomore year, we were in the state championship game. We had done very well the whole season but our offense just couldn't put anything together and our defense could barely slow them down. Well the second half started and the coaches decided to put a sophomore in at middle linebacker. He was responsible for the first two or three tackles of that drive and we thought we had some hope on defense. Well that continued on till about 2 minutes left in the third quarter and we were down 31-7. We were able to score and totally took control of the momentum to win 35-31, sealing the win with an interception by our season interception leader with about 18 seconds left. Truly amazing to feel all of those different emotions on the sideline and be part of that game. That is a great story. The section of NY that I played in would not allow private schools to compete with public schools, so we never had the opportunity to play for a state title. It's great that you had that chance, and that your team had to fight that hard for it. |
|
coachriley
Junior Member
"Tough times don't last; Tough people do."
Posts: 406
|
Post by coachriley on Apr 13, 2010 20:25:06 GMT -6
Yeah it was truly amazing, and our RB got a scholarship to a university in state and set the conference rushing record if I believe. I loved the team having to work that hard for the win as opposed to just steamrolling the team.
|
|
|
|
Post by larrymoe on Apr 13, 2010 20:39:55 GMT -6
As a player, probably my favorite was beating a local private school for the first time in about 15 years my senior year. Probably the game I played in that was the best was our first round playoff game that same year where we lost to the #2 ranked team in the state 35-29 on our home turf on two kick returns for TDs.
As an asst coach? Probably a 14-12 last week of the regular season nail biter between two teams that would go on to be semifinalists that very year on opposite sides of the bracket. As a header? Probably against the same team the next year. They were ranked #1 and we had em tied 24-24 with 96 (there abouts) secs left in regulation with a vastly inferior team. They completed a controversial 40 yd fade for a TD the next play and went on to win the game.
|
|
|
|
Post by phantom on Apr 13, 2010 20:40:05 GMT -6
Funny coincidence that you're asking this question tonight right after ESPNs 30 for 30 show about Allen Iverson. In 1992 we beat his team by one point when our LB tackled him on about the one inch line on a 2 point conversion attempt after time had run out.
Another great one was a 2002 playoff game that we won 27-21. On the last play of the game they threw a pass into the end zone that landed on their great WRs chest as he was lying on the ground. Our SS scooped the ball up before their guy could close his hands on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachmoore42 on Apr 13, 2010 20:45:56 GMT -6
Two games, both coaching. Both overtime wins at home (ended at the same endzone ironically).
First, against our biggest rival. Knocked down a 4th down pass near the goalline to win it. We ran on the field, coaches included, and swarmed the kid who knocked it down.
Second, against our toughest opponent for the era. This is middle school, so kicking is a bigger adventure than in HS. We attempted a FG in the 3rd and missed it horribly. Attempted one at the end of the 4th and barely missed. We went scoreless into OT. They scored and failed on the 2pt conversion. We scored and kicked the XP to win it. First kick (FG or XP) made in school history. One of only two to this day.
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachMikeJudy on Apr 13, 2010 20:58:07 GMT -6
Last regular season game of my senior year in college. Winner takes conference title and gets trip to NCAA playoffs-
Their #1 Defense in country vs our #4 offense.
Physical battle all game long. We block a FG and send it to OT. 2nd OT we block another FG and win it 27-24- 1st trip to NCAA's in my school's history (now they're a regular in the D3 final four).
There was not many people on either team that didn't sell out that day...that's what I remember the most- no letdowns from anyone.
|
|
|
|
Post by lochness on Apr 13, 2010 21:44:44 GMT -6
We played the defending undefeated state champ at home in 2002.
They were beating us by 3 scores with 7 minutes left to play. We scored three times in seven minutes to tie it up (I think we needed some 2-point conversions too, because our kicker had been awful) to force overtime at 35-35 with less than 7 seconds to play and no time outs (we used our TO's to stop the clock on defense). We got the ball in the first inning and scored on the very first play. 10 yard TD run on a TB Power we took right up the gut. We called a reverse for a 2-pt conversion to go up 43-35.
They get the ball, score in 3 plays, and get THIER 2-point conversion to tie it at 43-43.
Next frame (double OT now), they get the ball first and we stop them 4-and-out. We get the ball on the 10 and handoff a draw to our TB who carries it down to the 2 and fumbles it back to the 9 where we recover for second down. We blast it up the gut on second down, and punch it in on third down for the win. 49-43 upset...and the greatest game I've ever been a part of (and may EVER be a part of).
It was also the third week in a row we had mounted a second half comeback to win.
We didn't even make the playoffs that year, but I'll never forget that feeling or that season.
|
|
|
|
Post by mariner42 on Apr 13, 2010 23:00:35 GMT -6
As a player: my junior year we played our rivals in week 10, winner goes to playoffs. We lost 20-14, but I'll never, ever forget the atmosphere, energy, intensity, and excitement. It was standing room only, sell-out crowd with a line around the block to get into the JV game. Come kickoff it was an absolute frenzy, there were a half-dozen police officers who were separating the two fan bases and concession lines. Teenagers had to show school ID to get to their side of the stands.
As a coach: this last season we upset the 4-time defending league champions in a brilliant game where the defense played lights-out, the offense did what it needed to, and we flat-out got it done. I can remember looking at the clock, seeing 22-16 with 3:00 left, and saying to my guy in the booth "How did we do this?" I'd been preparing us to beat them since May, but couldn't have predicted that it would go down the way it did. Very satisfying win for me as a coach.
|
|
|
|
Post by julien on Apr 13, 2010 23:53:39 GMT -6
As a player we win one particular game nobody thought we could win. 1st round of playoff at home versus 2times reigning champions.
They came with 2 buses. One with the players, the other with parents and fans. Half their players were on the Under 19 French National Team.
We were less than 20. Some of us never left the field. And we kick their a$$ all day long. We were bullies. I was playing MLB at the time and I had my best game. I can still remember some plays we made, kinda smell mud and blood, lol
We won 21-10. We reached the State Championship that year, tough loss 22-12
|
|
|
|
Post by wingtol on Apr 14, 2010 6:34:54 GMT -6
Coaching: 2000 PA AAAA state title game. We ended CB West 59 game win streak and avenged a one point loss to them in the state game the year before. Game went to OT we won 41-35. They had a kid score 5 td's, our RB set the state game rushing record at the time, had a kid return a KO 90 yds was a crazy game. We finished 4th in USA today they finished 23. Was the cover story on USA Today sports page and also was voted ESPN high school game of the year
|
|
parkway
Sophomore Member
Posts: 170
|
Post by parkway on Apr 14, 2010 17:22:05 GMT -6
Wingtol, I remember watching that game, and the game from the previous year. The AAA state title game between WA and Strath Haven was also a great game. We actually had a passing scrimmage against you guys that year. Wow, what a talented team.
|
|
|
|
Post by wolfden12 on Apr 14, 2010 17:43:06 GMT -6
Wingtol,
Was that the year after Picchoti?
|
|
|
|
Post by wolfden12 on Apr 14, 2010 17:46:36 GMT -6
Last high school game played against our biggest rival. Several players traded schools at the start of high school and atmosphere was awesome. 12,000 in a stadium that holds 6k. I personally played for the public school and my family all went to the parochial. They were 8-1 and needed to beat us to get into the playoffs. It was a back and forth game 21-14 us late in the 4th. They got the ball back and drove the field to our 20. We held them on 4 downs as time expired as the stands emptied onto the field. The feeling has never been replaced.
|
|
|
|
Post by dubber on Apr 14, 2010 19:56:26 GMT -6
My most memorable was a little different. We played the Indiana School for the Deaf in the first round of the playoffs. We played them on a Wednesday (not Friday), because they had fall break and all the players would be going home (it was truly a campus). It was freezing cold. They weren't as good as us, but they had the best player on the field. He was a 6' 2'' 210 LBS running back that was the fast man on the field. Problem was, his OL could not block us. He's get the ball and break 3 tackles before churning out a 2 yard gain. He finished with 35 carries for 103 yards. Onye Davis....... He is now a Deaf Olympian www.viable.net/blog/?p=311I set the school record for tackles in a game (23, since re-broken), because I wasn't getting blocked, and knew exactly where the ball was going (they ran behind the same guy EVERY time). I made 23 tackles.........and on all of them I ended up on my back with Onye on top of me. More like 23 "got in the ways" I got our starting FB killed by Onye (who also played Linebacker), because I thought "hey these guys are deaf, I'm just going to call out the DL I'll be trapping on this play." I hollered, "I'm trapping 56" And Onye yelled, "Trap, trap, trap" Our FB was pissed and informed me back in the huddle that they don't have to be completely deaf to go to school here. At the end of the game (we won easily), we were going through the line shaking hands..........I had gone to our sign language teacher the day before and learned the sign for "good game".......I signed that to the passing players, and I could tell they appreciated it. Absolutely amazing experience. |
|
|
|
Post by gian3074 on Apr 14, 2010 20:10:14 GMT -6
My most memorable was a little different. We played the Indiana School for the Deaf in the first round of the playoffs. We played them on a Wednesday (not Friday), because they had fall break and all the players would be going home (it was truly a campus). It was freezing cold. They weren't as good as us, but they had the best player on the field. He was a 6' 2'' 210 LBS running back that was the fast man on the field. Problem was, his OL could not block us. He's get the ball and break 3 tackles before churning out a 2 yard gain. He finished with 35 carries for 103 yards. Onye Davis....... He is now a Deaf Olympian www.viable.net/blog/?p=311I set the school record for tackles in a game (23, since re-broken), because I wasn't getting blocked, and knew exactly where the ball was going (they ran behind the same guy EVERY time). I made 23 tackles.........and on all of them I ended up on my back with Onye on top of me. More like 23 "got in the ways" I got our starting FB killed by Onye (who also played Linebacker), because I thought "hey these guys are deaf, I'm just going to call out the DL I'll be trapping on this play." I hollered, "I'm trapping 56" And Onye yelled, "Trap, trap, trap" Our FB was {censored} and informed me back in the huddle that they don't have to be completely deaf to go to school here. At the end of the game (we won easily), we were going through the line shaking hands..........I had gone to our sign language teacher the day before and learned the sign for "good game".......I signed that to the passing players, and I could tell they appreciated it. Absolutely amazing experience. One of the best stories I've ever heard dubber. |
|
|
|
Post by coachbrek on Apr 14, 2010 22:18:49 GMT -6
I have coached three games where we won on the last play of the game.
The first game I ever coached in my career we threw a half back pass back to the QB on the last play of the game to win. Never practiced it once, I drew it up in the huddle during the time out.
Many years later we played a team heads and tails better than us but their defense pursued so hard to the ball and keyed on our motion so hard we ran counter after counter to keep us in the game. We stopped them one time the whole game and we ran over balance reverse on the last play of the game to win.
The only undefeated team I ever coached, we won against a team who was also undefeated for the leage championship. We completed only six passes the whole season and they played a 6-3 against us and dared us to pass so we did on the last play of the game, a down the line option pass to the back side TE on a post. We still had to score the 2pt conversion to win and punched it in on an overbalanced power.
Best playing experience was my sophomore season in college. We came back from a 28-6 deficit at the half to win on the last play of the game on a give to the fullback on a tripple option play to my side. We won 35-28 against a team who was unbeaten at the time.
|
|
|
|
Post by thunder17 on Apr 15, 2010 12:03:16 GMT -6
Our first varsity season was a couple of years ago. New school, started with a freshman class and added a class each year. We played our first varsity season without seniors. 1st game of district play we play a team who's coach said in the paper, "I don't think I would bring a bunch of boys to play a bunch of men". Well our boys had them down 20-0 at half. Come out in the second half, drive down the field and kick a field goal to go up 23-20. They score the next 21 pts, so it's 23-21. On their 30 yard line we have 3rd and 12 with 1:30 left in the game. Run a reverse to our freshman reciever, he picks up 15 yards and fumbles. They get the ball. They drive to our 30 and then we have a sophmore DB pick a pass and he runs with it (yes he was told to get his arse on the ground) and fumbles. They get it back. Drive to our 5 yard line with five seconds. They try a field goal and we block it to win. Just to see the look on our kids faces was priceless. It was awesome!
|
|
|
|
Post by thunder17 on Apr 15, 2010 12:04:14 GMT -6
oops. meant to say kick a field goal to go up 23-0. Sorry
|
|
|
|
Post by coachcrazy on Apr 15, 2010 15:44:01 GMT -6
Had the opportunity to play in (3) Army-Navy games. If you consider yourself a 'football guy', you have to go at least one time before you die.
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachCP on Apr 15, 2010 17:07:54 GMT -6
I have two, one as a player and one as a coach.
As a player, in HS my senior year, we played the number one team in 7A in Illinois at the time, a Dupage Valley Conference opponent who was 4-1 and expected to finish second in the conference in the preseason (lost to the number one team in 8A, also in our conference). They were supposed to trash us. They had like 4 or 5 guys on their OL or DL who were 6'4"+ and around 270ish. A future top notch D-III QB (not kidding, really good). To add more backstory to this, besides the teams we were supposed to win, we had to beat either the 7A team or the 8A team to get 5 wins to qualify to make the playoffs. Our head coach retired the year before and our Sophomore Head Coach became the Varsity Head Coach, over the Varsity D-Coordinator who went on to become the D-Coordinator of this #1 ranked team we were about to play. We were expected to have no chance because they were so good, their d-coordinator knew all of our plays and how to stop it, and we "sucked".
We ran the ball down their throat ALL night, buck sweep working to perfection. We beat them solidly, and ran the clock out in the 4th quarter. We didn't do anything fancy. We played old school ball and demolished them. At the end of the game, in the loudest game I remember (they were about 10 minutes from our school and we all knew each other and there were a lot of family rivalries), we heard our crowd thundering "OVERRATED!". As a player, it was the best feeling in the world. We went on to make the playoffs, they didn't win a game the rest of the year and missed the playoffs. The only thing I didn't like about it, that old D-coordinator still taught at our school and some of our guys (not me) poked at him a lot. I told him good game, and said that the D-Linemen on me was {censored} good.
As a coach, this year we were awful record wise. We hadn't won a game into week 8 in Indiana. We played the powerhouse team in our area, ranked 9th in our division (3A). They are our huge rival. Talented. Super athletic. We got the huge upset victory over them. After 7 straight losses this season and I think 11-12 to the previous season, it felt so amazing. It was also our Head Coaches first victory (he was new this year as well) and I knew it meant a lot for him since he played at our school and knew what the rivalry was like for his whole life. I felt so happy for our kids and for our staff, as it ended a lot of tension. It was our only victory, but it was one of those you wouldn't trade away for much of anything, looking back on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by dubber on Apr 15, 2010 19:18:07 GMT -6
Had the opportunity to play in (3) Army-Navy games. If you consider yourself a 'football guy', you have to go at least one time before you die. Awesome. |
|
|
|
Post by miami5 on Apr 15, 2010 19:53:41 GMT -6
Wow some great stories...
As a coach, my first year , we came back from a 13 -0 deficit to beat the number one ranked team in our division 14-13.
came down to stopping them on a 4 down play to get ball back and than had to get a first down to run the clock out.
As a player, had a lot but would have to say playing in 4 Miami vs Florida state games .
|
|
|
|
Post by k on Apr 16, 2010 21:36:03 GMT -6
As a player: We are 9-0 and ranked #7 in the state (we were "3A") and are playing probably our biggest rival who is 9-0 and #9 in the state (they are "5A"). They ended up losing in the state championship game as did we.
Score is 24-21 and their D1 receiver beats double coverage to go 70 yards on a vertical. He gets pulled down on the half yard line by a freshmen (granted a kid who ran a 4.3 and was one of the top recruits in the country four years later) with like two seconds on the clock. They call a timeout and our DC pulls our FS and brings in our 6'5" 330 pound all state (wrestling and football) center. Slides me from headup on the center into the right A gap puts him in the left A gap and tells us to drive the center back on the snap. They run a sneak with no where to go. He slides into my A gap and gets owned. Game over.
As a coach: We knew we were good but no one else did. Local paper picked us to finish behind the team that went 0-10. We are playing a team that returned 22 starters and went to the state semi finals and lost by a field goal (and had beat the winner in the regular season the year before). The previous week they beat the defending state champs. They are up 21-20 (they blocked a field goal in the first half and we haven't scored since while they've scored and kicked three times since). With two minutes left we just converted a 3rd and long but we got a phantom holding call and now its 3rd and ridiculous from our 40. Streak to our only deep threat falls incomplete. On 4th and the season our QB drops back only to shake their all state DE first and then their all state 3 tech and then throw the ball to the endzone. Our bigtime WR is in bracket coverage and out jumps both the 5-7 kid in front of him and the 6-3 kid behind him pulls the ball down and ducks into the endzone. The single most amazing play I've ever seen. You know the game winning play that Crabtree had along the right sideline a couple years ago? Had NOTHING on this. Game over. That team then went on to blow out every other team they played in route to a state championship we didn't lose until the semi-finals.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2010 5:31:40 GMT -6
Wingtol, Was that the year after Picchoti? Man if I could count the # of times I saw that last name screwed up...=  Picciotti was my partner up until last September, when he left the department Wingtol, where in Pa are you from ? Best game I ever played in, has to be Senior year it was one of those games where you are just ON that day, never missed a block , dominated the kid in front of you..Never denied a 1st when I got the ball. Best game I ever coached was easy, 2004 the year we won our second championship. We beat a unweighted team in the area who openly challenged us, because thaay had won their chamionship the year before. What we thought ws going to be a friendly game between 2 organizations, turned into a war. Final Score was 74-12, to this day that coach still says we just got lucky. |
|
|
|
Post by rpetrie on Apr 17, 2010 6:57:18 GMT -6
As a head coach I'd have trouble pinpointing 1 as there are many special games for different reasons...just not any championship ones to speak of yet...but still hopefull.
As a varsity assistant, there were 2 games. In Virginia AA-State playoffs (1994) we were in the finals vs. a team that had averaged WINS by 43+ points per game. They even had a game that was a 70+ point victory. Their coach was quoted that our game was a "formality" and shouldn't even take place. We were undeserving of the opportunity because of our 10-3 record. In pre-game warmups their players were crotch grabbin and taunting our players AND coaches. We proceeded to methodically dismantle them 26-0. As a defensive assistant it was a proud moment to do what we did.
In 1997 VA AA-playoffs, we had started the season 1-4, but went undefeated in our district to make playoffs. We were playing the #1 ranked team in State for the Region 1 title and a shot to go to the semi's. They avg. 45 points a game, and we were on the road. We scored on our 1st drive and our last drive to win 14-7. I've never seen a team with so much speed, but somehow we were able to contain them. There was so much emotion in that game that it is almost indescribable. It was at that point that we really felt like a team of destiny. The following week we beat the #2 team in the State Semi's and then beat the #4 team to win the Championship.
|
|
|
|
Post by struceri on Apr 17, 2010 7:54:57 GMT -6
I have two that come to mind, both as a coach. The 1st was in 2006. It was a 1st round playoff game and were on the road vs the #2 team in the state. We were an average team who had a real good running back and a real good WR but not much else. Our WR had a bad foot sprain and hardly played at all but we were down 11 I think and he catches a screen pass, breaks 2 or 3 tackles an takes it to the house for about 50 yards limping the whole way. It was the only ball he caught all night. We were down 4 with like a min left and we were facing a 4 and inches from our own 25 and we ran an off tackle power play to try and get the 1st down and our stud RB runs through about 4 arm tackles and breaks it. They had a real fast kid that was chasing him down so our RB dove the last 3 or 4 yards to score. They manage to drive the ball down to inside our 40 with 15 seconds left and our freshman corner picks a pass off to end it. I felt pretty good after that one.
2nd time was the next year in the state championship. We were playing a really good team that was loaded on both sides of the line. We were outmatched physically but we had some really good skill kids. They had beat us in the last regular season game by 10 I think but their defense really put the clamps on us in that game. The 1st half we totally dominated play. We burst two 30+ yard runs for TD's and put together a long drive for FG. They dominated the 2nd half and ran iso, power and counter all night. With about 2 minutes left we had the ball on our 25 facing a 3rd and long. Our stud slot receiver catches a crossing route. They had a stud LB who came within inches of knocking the pass away. Our guy catches it and it is just him and the corner on the sideline. From out of nowhere one of WR's(the frosh CB who picked off the pass in the playoff game the year b4) lays a huge block on the corner and our guy goes untouched down the sideline for the go ahead score. Unfortunately we left too much time on th clock because they marched the ball down the field and had the ball on our 15 with like 30 seconds left. They run a counter and he walks into the endzone. We couldn't do anything with it when we got it back. The loss hurt but I was reall proud of our guys because no one was giving us a chance to be in the game much less win it.
|
|
fugulookinat
Junior Member
"Eye see DEAD people!"
Posts: 437
|
Post by fugulookinat on Apr 18, 2010 15:05:50 GMT -6
Coached in and won the only triple overtime State Championship game in the history of Texas high school football. That game took 10 years off of my life!
|
|
jlt
Junior Member
Posts: 313
|
Post by jlt on Apr 28, 2010 6:41:16 GMT -6
I have the typical come from behidn to reach a championship game with the last play of the game story. But I think the best coaching moment had to this: I started up a program with the help of the college at 22. Led the team through 2 seasons of scrimmages and friendlies soundly getting their ass kicked the whole way. Entered into the league with 20 guys and 2 coaches and were getting beat elft right and centre by teams that had been around 20 years with coaching rosters of 10. The team slowly improved as much as you can taking 48-0, 90-0, 52-8 beatings. Then after the bye week it sorta clicked and they pulled together for game against our arch rivals and a playoff team. To cut a long story short somehow through grit and determination we managed to keep them at 6-0 going into the 4th. The rain was coming down so bad that players couldnt turn quickly and the mud covered the shirts so much that you could barely read the numbers. In the 3rd we started on out own 4 yard line in this awful conditions 6-0 down and put together a drive that I have never seen before to their 1 yard line but could not punch it in. Turned over on downs inches from the goaline. The centre came off so angry he was crying and I was convinced that was the spirit broken. But on the 1st play the defence went and got a safety to make it 6-2. End of quarter In the 4th we keep driving it down into their redzone but conditions and the fact most guys had only ever played 5 games of football started to show agains tthe more experienced team. But our defence kept holding them and in the 2nd half their offence was -9 total. Eventually I called a counter and the whole of their defence bit on it and our RB went in untouched from 6 yards. The sideline erupted. it was the first time the program had ever been in the lead of a football match, let alone against our big rivals. The next 6 minutes went the same way as the rest of the 4th with both defences helped by the conditions When it got down to 40 seconds our ball and no timeouts left I told our Qb to take a knee. None of the offence actually knew what to do to take a knee. I had to call a tiemout and tell them what a QB knee was. When the QB actually did it, the whole offence took a knee. Was funniest thign I seen for a long time. Needless to say when the final whistle went and we had beaten our arch rivals by a safety there was a lot of cheering and celebrating and I think it is safe to say that there were a lot of players who washed the mud off their faces with a bit of happy sobbing. Admittedly I had a a little cry myself in the midst of things that they had fought so hard for 3 years to establish the program and win a game. This lil sob was cut short by being drenched with water by the Dline...... Lil scamps. |
|
