The Longest Yard

If you are over 30, you likely have seen the movie The Longest Yard. Burt Reynolds plays an "old pro" quarterback that leads a rag-tag team of prisoners in a football game against the guards in the 1974 classic film. The final scene is a bit cliche...seconds to go...the prisoners down to their last play, needing a touchdown to win. The ball is snapped...Reynolds begins a sweeping run around the right tackle (all in ultra-slow motion, of course). As he rounds the corner, he sees that his path to the endzone is obstructed by numerous opponents. He reverses course...starts a long sprint towards the opposite side of the field, looking for an opening to the goal line. Suddenly, he sees an opportunity...he cuts towards the endzone...dives over a pile of players...the guns sounds...the game ends...Reynolds lands in the endzone the hero...the prisoners beat the guards. These plays only happen in the movies...right? Wrong!

In a recent youth football game between the Southridge Skyhawks 3/4s and the Tualatin Timberwolves 3/4s (third and fourth graders), the scene from The Longest Yard played out, almost to the tee. After letting the Skyhawks slip out to a three touchdown lead, the feisty Timberwolves fought their way back to within a touchdown in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. The scene was set...down to their last play and only a few seconds remaining, the 'Wolves were inside the Skyhawk's ten yardline. Well, if you haven't figured it out by now...a remarkable play was about to unfold.

The Timberwolves' halfback took the ball...sweeping wide right, he gets cut off as he heads towards the endzone...nearly tackled, he spins around and heads to the opposite side of the field. As he outsprints all eleven Skyhawks, the horn sounds...the game has ended...but his run had yet to...he continued his run heading to the corner of the endzone. One last Skyhawk dives for him in a futile attempt to dash the fairytale run. He misses...Tualatin scores...the game was now over with the Timberwolves celebrating an improbable victory.

You just gotta love youth sports! Below are photos from the Southridge 3/4 Whites against Scappoose and the Southridge 3/4 Golds against that scrambling Tualatin team.