You doubtless noticed the spotlight on Nov. 21: With an impending spike by Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Philadelphia Eagles rookie lineman Jalen Carter dove between the legs of the middle in an try and intercept the ball that beelined to the bottom. Carter couldn’t make a catch, but it surely opened the eyes of the soccer world — was spike protection modified ceaselessly?
A St. Augustine Excessive College (San Diego, Calif.) lineman tried the identical factor this weekend, and per video replay, he might have carried out it efficiently.
Steve Montoya, director of programming and technique at MaxPreps, tweeted the video of Bronx “Boogie” Letuligasenoa diving and arguably catching the ball:
Oh. My. Gosh. Ought to this have been referred to as an INT? St. Augustine (San Diego, CA) would ultimately lose on the following play. I believe his palms are underneath the ball. @MaxPreps @chriscfore pic.twitter.com/9oJdbv7P5C
— Steve Montoya (@SMontoyaMP) December 3, 2023
Did he catch it? Did it bounce? The referees dominated it an incomplete move, and upon video replay, it’s exhausting to see definitively if the ball bounced or if Letuligasenoa caught it cleanly.
It will have mattered immensely. St. Augustine led St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.) 20-7 getting into the fourth quarter, however St. Bonaventure had minimize the deficit to seven. St. Augustine had punted the ball deep in its personal territory with 14 seconds left as an alternative of working out extra of the clock and taking a security, and after a brief punt, the Seraphs had an opportunity to finish the comeback and win the Division 1-A Regional Finals.
Instantly after the spike, St. Bonaventure accomplished a trick-play double move for a landing and made the game-winning PAT with no time left on the clock.
No time left. pic.twitter.com/MnJkBMBduD
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 3, 2023
St. Bonaventure gained 21-20, and with how shut Letuligasenoa’s diving interception try was to altering the sport and postseason, it might proceed to extend in recognition.
Carter stated he acquired the concept from seeing a highschool participant do the identical, and it has been carried out efficiently at the highschool degree. ProFootball Speak on NBC Sports activities linked to 2 movies of such occurrences (right here and right here).
Just a little extra clearly, and Letuligasenoa would have joined the checklist of profitable spike preventions.
As an alternative, the Seraphs had their very own trick play up their sleeve to get the win and advance to the championship, the place they are going to play towards Folsom (Calif.).
Extra:
USA TODAY Excessive College Sports activities Stars of the Week: Bo Walker, Jeremy Hecklinski, Brandon White, Massillon protection, Landon Frey