Question about 1972 Broncos-Oilers game

[Bryan]

Broncos were up 23-17 late in the game, and on 4th down from their own 34-yard line the Broncos lined up to punt. Instead of punting, Billy Van Heusen took off and scored on a 66-yard TD run.

1) How late in the game did this play occur? One account makes it seem as if it were literally the last play or essentially the last play of the game.
2) Was the fake punt called by John Ralston, or did Van Heusen take off on his own?
3) If it were the last play of the game and the fake punt was a called play, what do you think of the strategy involved?

[Mark L. Ford]

According to the AP summary of the game the next day (September 18) , here would be the answers to the first two questions.

"John Ralston's professional coaching debut was a success... Bronco punter Billy Van Heusen ran out the clock the hard way by chugging 66 yards for a touchdown on a faked punt. 'He was instructed to run out the last four seconds,' Ralston said later..... Ultimately, Van Heusen got the call to punt and the result, while not affecting the outcome, certainly was unexpected."

[Mark L. Ford]

As to the strategy, the Joe Pisarcik incident was still six years in the future, and taking a knee wasn't yet an option. And I think there would have been a risk of a turnover no matter what Van Heusen had done, whether as a blocked punt returned for a touchdown or a fumble returned for a touchdown; the difference was whether the turnover would have been 34 yards from the Denver goal, or further away from the Denver goal.

[Bryan]

As to the strategy, the Joe Pisarcik incident was still six years in the future, and taking a knee wasn't yet an option. And I think there would have been a risk of a turnover no matter what Van Heusen had done, whether as a blocked punt returned for a touchdown or a fumble returned for a touchdown; the difference was whether the turnover would have been 34 yards from the Denver goal, or further away from the Denver goal.

Thanks for the responses. It would make sense to me for Van Heusen to take the snap and immediately run backwards, eventually running out of the end zone for an intentional safety. You'd also think the Oilers would be trying to block the punt, making it less likely for the punter to simply take off running for a long TD. Just a weird play all around.

[Mark L. Ford]

I didn't find this out until today, but an interesting bit of trivia-- It was the first of two games in 1972 where the Oilers were victim of a touchdown that arose from a fake punt. It happened again on November 19, when the Packers' Ron Widby threw a touchdown pass.

[BD Sullivan]

I didn't find this out until today, but an interesting bit of trivia-- It was the first of two games in 1972 where the Oilers were victim of a touchdown that arose from a fake punt. It happened again on November 19, when the Packers' Ron Widby threw a touchdown pass.

Widby's pass went to third-string receiver Dave Davis, who did most of the work by catching an eight-yard pass and running 60 yards for the score. The planned move came in the final seconds of the first half, with Widby saying that Houston had a knack for rushing 10 players on punts--though he did indicate he could audible if they changed the alignment

Houston's special teams cost them the game, losing 23-10. Earlier that quarter, Jon Staggers ran back a punt 85 yards for GB.

[CSKreager]

I didn't find this out until today, but an interesting bit of trivia-- It was the first of two games in 1972 where the Oilers were victim of a touchdown that arose from a fake punt. It happened again on November 19, when the Packers' Ron Widby threw a touchdown pass.

When you fall for a fake punt not once but TWICE for touchdowns......

Oh, those Bill Pederson Oilers.