November 26 1994 - John Tyler vs. Plano East High School Football Game On November 26, 1994, in a high school football playoff game in Texas, the Lions of John Tyler High School defeated the Panthers of Plano East Senior High School by the score of 48--44. The game drew national attention in the United States due to its wildly improbable and tumultuous finish, with five touchdowns scored in the last two and a half minutes (and seven in the last four and a half minutes), and it won the 1995 Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award. Game summary The game was a Region II semifinal in class 5A Division II of Texas high school football and was played in Texas Stadium, with an attendance of more than 30,000. Both teams had a 12--0 record up to that point in the season, and they were known for defense: John Tyler was giving up only 14 points per game on average, while Plano East was giving up less than nine. Plano was ranked #2 in the state, and Tyler was ranked #3. The first quarter ended in a 7--7 draw, but at halftime, the Lions had a 21--14 lead. In the third quarter, each team kicked a field goal, bringing the score to 24--17. The Lions then scored a field goal early in the fourth quarter to make the score 27--17. Towards the end of the quarter, as the Panthers were first-and-goal, the ball was stripped from their quarterback and the resulting fumble was returned 90 yards for a touchdown and a 34--17 lead with 4:24 remaining. On the fourth play of the Panthers' next possession, another fumble was returned 36 yards for a touchdown, giving the Lions a seemingly insurmountable 41--17 lead with only 3:03 remaining. Many fans had already headed for the exits. Comeback However, on a two-play 70-yard drive, the Panthers scored a touchdown to bring the score to 41--23 (after a failed two-point conversion) with 2:36 on the clock. The Panthers then successfully executed three onside kicks in a row, recovering the ball each time and then driving down the field for a touchdown on each occasion. The first touchdown drive took six plays (the two-point conversion was good: 41--31 with 1:29 left); the second also took six plays (the two-point conversion failed: 41--37 with 0:56 left); the final one was completed in three plays (the one-point conversion was successful), giving the Panthers a 44--41 comeback lead with only 24 seconds remaining. Ending In a final twist, however, after the Panthers did a regular kickoff, the Lions' returner Roderick Dunn caught the ball at his own three-yard line and took it 97 yards for a touchdown at 0:11 and a 48--44 Lions victory. He was the very same player who had muffed the reception of the final two onside kicks. In their final very brief possession, the Panthers started on their 20-yard line on a touchback and the game ended two plays later with an interception. John Tyler 7 14 3 24 — 48 Plano East 7 7 3 27 — 44 Between the two teams, 48 points (seven touchdowns) in total had been scored in the game's final four and a half minutes. The Lions' offense never touched the ball again after their field goal early in the fourth quarter: their team's final 21 points were scored by the defense and special teams. Analysis In American football, an onside kick is usually done only under dire circumstances because it has a low probability of success and in the event of failure the opposing team obtains very favorable field position. Successfully carrying out three onside kicks in a row is extremely difficult and relies on luck, in that it usually requires cooperation (ie, ineptitude) by the opposing team. Carrying out a rapid touchdown drive, without letting too much clock time elapse, is also rather challenging but certainly feasible; however, doing so four times in a row in only two and a half minutes is almost unheard of. Finally, returning a kickoff for a touchdown is also fairly rare. Overall, a considerable number of statistically rare events all occurred together within the game's closing minutes. Aftermath The Lions went on to win the 1994 state championship in 5A Division II, defeating Lake Highlands 27--7 in the Region II final, Arlington 45--20 in the state semifinals and Austin Westlake 35--24 in the state championship. When Plano East took the lead, Garver jubilantly proclaimed "the greatest comeback of all time", but soon Zoffuto was repeatedly exclaiming "Oh, no" as the final touchdown return unfolded, and then "I don't believe it. God bless those kids, I am sick, I want to throw up." The game was given the 1995 Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award. In 2006, ESPN ranked the game among its top 10 premature celebrations of all-time. [source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_John_Tyler_vs._Plano_East_high_school_football_game]

• published: 18 Jan 2012
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