Tipped-Ball Catch Ends Amazing Football Game (With Video)

October 28, 2010 / Football
Rivals.com

In the annals of incredible tip-drill touchdowns, a catch made by Rogers (Wash.) High’s Terrance Stubblefield Friday night has to come pretty close to the top. The touchdown was more than just nice on the eyes, too: The grab earned Rogers a key win against a league rival, pushing the team significantly closer to the second playoff berth from Washington’s South Puget Sound League South Division.

As you can see in the video above courtesy of Kramer Babauta, and as chronicled in the Tacoma News Tribune, Tyler Stubblefield somehow pulled in the 40-yard pass after the ball bounced off defenders’ fingertips, his own and even a Graham-Kapowsin (Wash.) player’s helmet. In fact, he caught the ball just in time to gather himself and somehow roll into the end zone, through the hands of the off-balance Graham-Kapowsin defensive backs, to give Rogers a 20-17 lead (and victory) with just 12 seconds remaining in the game.

“I was just trying to make a play,” Stubblefield told the News Tribune. “Our offense was struggling all game, but when I saw the ball up in the air, I knew I had to make a play. …

[Rewind: Runningback hurdles defenders in incredible touchdown]

“As the game went on, we started to get into sync. It was just a huge play.”

It wasn’t the only late touchdown pulled in by Stubblefield in the game, either. Rogers actually trailed GK 17-8 with fewer than seven minutes remaining. Then, Rams quarterback Stefan Van Horn first hit Keylin Huddleston on a 31-yard touchdown pass to pull within 17-14, setting the stage for Stubblefield’s late heroics.

[Related: Special needs player scores heartwarming touchdown]

“That was absolutely crazy,” Rogers coach Gene Bowen told the News Tribune. “We haven’t had too many crazy plays this season, but that certainly was one.”


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