The most talked about college football play across the country this season was the Bluegrass Miracle, Marcus Randall’s 75-yard Hail Mary pass into the arms of Devery Henderson for the 33-30 win over Kentucky.
The football team arrived in Kentucky following a loss to Auburn and an off week. After trailing most of the game, Kentucky scored a touchdown and kicked a field goal in the fourth to take the lead.
Behind by three with two seconds on the clock, quarterback Marcus Randall heaved a 75-yard pass down the field. The ball tipped off of one Kentucky player, went through the arms of one and tipped off of another before Henderson caught it and ran into the endzone.
This is a portion of an article by Reveille Contributing Writer Jessica Waldon, published Nov.11.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — As Kentucky prematurely celebrated victory Saturday, with fans chanting “L-S-who?” rushing the field and players dumping the water cooler on UK head coach Guy Morriss, the miraculous occurred.
It was the immaculate tip and bobble that led the LSU Tigers to the 33-30 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats and may go down as one of the greatest plays in school history.
With two seconds on the clock, LSU lined up for one last shot at the endzone, a chance to avoid a second straight Southeastern Conference road loss.
The Tigers’ last chance for a win was called “Berlin,” a play that sets up a “Hail Mary-like” play with help. When run correctly, quarterback Marcus Randall throws the ball as far downfield as possible. Then, receiver Reggie Robinson plays the middle and tips the ball to another LSU receiver. Devery Henderson runs underneath to catch a short tip, and Michael Clayton goes deep to catch a longer tip.
However, the play did not work as planned Saturday. Clayton said they had to re-route; he ended up in the middle, and Henderson ended up deep. Clayton went up to tip the ball, but two of the four Kentucky defenders downfield tipped it right into the hands of Henderson.
“We kept going and made the play,” Clayton said.
“We always say to play for the full 60 minutes, and this is why,” Saban said.
Clayton said it is about not giving up until the last second ticks off the clock.
“In games like this, you can’t give up ’til the clock says 0:00,” he said.