26 points in the game's final 3:30
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:44 pm
In the Southwestern League in 1973, the undefeated Oklahoma City Wranglers had a 17-0 lead over the San Antonio Toros, defending champs, with less than four minutes to play -- and then everything fell apart. The Toros scored on a short run at 3:28, went for a two-point conversion but failed. They tried an onside kick; the Wranglers covered it, but a fumble a couple of plays later gave the ball back to San Antonio with two minutes left. After three incompletions, they connected on a 14-yard pass to retain possession; then pass interference in the end zone gave them a first down at the 1-yard line, and on the next play they scored again, with 1:16 left. 17-12.
Another two-point try failed, but this time the onside kick worked. San Antonio took over on the OC 47-yard line, and five plays later tight end Roger Gill (no relation, but I thought I'd mention him anyway) scored on a short pass to give the Toros their first lead, 18-17, with 19 seconds left. They tried a kick for the extra point this time, but the kicker missed for the first time that season, so Oklahoma City still had a faint chance to pull the game out.
The kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback, and on the second play from scrimmage a sack caused a fumble; a San Antonio lineman recovered and waltzed into the end zone to make it 24-17. This time the Toros faked a kick for the extra point, and the holder ran it in for a two-point conversion. There were still seven seconds left, so the Toros had done all that damage in 3 minutes and 21 seconds. It might have been the greatest very late comeback in the history of pro football up to that point. Actually, for all I know it could be the best even now.
Incidentally, this turned out to be Oklahoma City's only loss of the season. The Wranglers won the rematch with San Antonio 42-14, then beat the Toros again three weeks later, this time 19-16, in the championship game.
Another two-point try failed, but this time the onside kick worked. San Antonio took over on the OC 47-yard line, and five plays later tight end Roger Gill (no relation, but I thought I'd mention him anyway) scored on a short pass to give the Toros their first lead, 18-17, with 19 seconds left. They tried a kick for the extra point this time, but the kicker missed for the first time that season, so Oklahoma City still had a faint chance to pull the game out.
The kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback, and on the second play from scrimmage a sack caused a fumble; a San Antonio lineman recovered and waltzed into the end zone to make it 24-17. This time the Toros faked a kick for the extra point, and the holder ran it in for a two-point conversion. There were still seven seconds left, so the Toros had done all that damage in 3 minutes and 21 seconds. It might have been the greatest very late comeback in the history of pro football up to that point. Actually, for all I know it could be the best even now.
Incidentally, this turned out to be Oklahoma City's only loss of the season. The Wranglers won the rematch with San Antonio 42-14, then beat the Toros again three weeks later, this time 19-16, in the championship game.