Holy Trinity

The Trinity (TX) Tigers completed one of the most exciting college football plays in history this weekend when they rocked the Division III world by completing 15 laterals to win a game against the Millsaps Majors. The play started with only two seconds remaining on the clock.

Obviously, everything about the setting screams Hollywood. Two obscure liberal arts colleges. A meaningless Division III season. A rollicking crowd of under 4,000 people. As usual, I want Creative Differences to be the first hat in the ring on this one.

Title: The Lateral That Saved a Life

Plot: Riley Curry grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Born in Sugar Land, his only dream was to play college ball. Blake Barmore was born on the right side of the tracks, but never fit in with the other kids. He had a golden arm, but a dark and stormy heart. Shawn Thompson may have been deaf, but he could hear loud and clear with the one thing that counted . . . his heart.

They all came to college with the same dream. To play football, to win a Division III national championship, to live the glory of which they had only dreamed. At first, their differences drove them apart, but soon they learned to love one another as brothers.

By Barmore's senior season, the team was primed for success and Barmore, Curry and Thompson were closer than ever. Then disaster struck. Before the homecoming game against Millsap, Barmore lost his ability to throw the ball forward. Faced with no other choice, Coach Steve Mohr reluctantly benched Barmore in favor of backup quarterback Bryant Wilson, whom everyone knew was a total dick.

The game was close, but Trinity still trailed 24-22 in the closing seconds and Barmore was powerless to save the team he loved. Then Thompson had an idea. He walked over to the coach during the timeout and made the ASL sign for "backward." Inspired, Mohr put Barmore back into the game and called for him to lateral the ball.

The rest is history:



For some people, the one play the counts is the one we never expected.

This December, learn that going backwards may be the only way to move forward . . .