‘Miracle in Iowa’
Des Moines, Iowa – Unbelievable. Amazing. Miracle.
Use whichever word you like to describe the final play of Stetson’s stunning 23-21 victory Saturday afternoon at Drake Stadium, and none of them seem to do justice to what happened on the field during the Pioneer Football League showdown.
After leading the home-standing Bulldogs (3-2, 2-1) for most of the game, the Hatters looked on in near disbelief when, with just 45 seconds left to play, Drake quarterback Grant Kraemer found a wide-open Devin Cates for a 76-yard touchdown.
The play came after the Hatters (4-1, 2-1) were forced to punt on fourth and one from their own 35 when a first down would have sealed a 17-14 victory. Cates, Drake’s 6-4 senior who came in with a team-high 21 receptions, had been shutout on the day before racing down the middle of the field untouched to give the Bulldogs a 21-17 lead.
Drake was penalized after the touchdown for excessive celebration, which resulted in Stetson getting the ball at the Hatters’ 35 following the kickoff.
With just one timeout to play with, Stetson quarterback Colin McGovern connected with Jack Bowen for 13 yards and a first down, stopping the clock. McGovern then hit senior tight end Donald Parham for 20 yards and another first down, again stopping the clock.
The next pass went to junior Steven Burdette for 17 yards to the Drake 15. Stetson used its final timeout with nine seconds left on the clock, enough time for perhaps two throws into the end zone.
On what turned out to be the final play, McGovern was flushed from the pocket by a Drake pass rush that had been relentless all day. The Bulldogs recorded three sacks in the game to go with three other quarterback hurries, but they also hit McGovern repeatedly, twice getting flagged for roughing the passer.
With the game on the line, McGovern moved to his left to avoid the rush and connected again with Bowen, a redshirt freshman. At the eight yard line, with three Drake defenders about to bring Bowen down to end the game, he did the only thing he could think of to keep the Hatters’ chances alive – he dropped the ball.
Burdette, who was on his way to try to help Bowen reach the end zone, saw the ball rolling on the ground, scooped and scored as the clock hit :00.
Both benches erupted in celebration at the end of the play. Drake, which was on the far side of the field from the play, celebrated thinking Bowen had been tackled and the game was over, not realizing that Burdette was in the end zone with the ball.
The Hatters were also celebrating, because they did see where the ball ended up.
Both teams held their collective breathes as the officials gathered to discuss the play. When referee Aaron Adams announced that the ball had been fumbled and the result of the play was a touchdown, the Stetson celebration was on.
“Miracle in Iowa,” Head Coach Roger Hughes called it.
