Nation’s most creative special teams coaches design 2-point play that incorporates a fake monkey and is called the Wrecking Ball
Miley Cyrus just thinks that she owns the wrecking ball. She's been outdone in Sherwood, Oregon, where the local high school football team is co-opting the name for one of the most unique and entertaining two-point conversion plays in history.
Meet the Wrecking Ball, football edition. Sherwood High (Sherwood, Ore.) used the play you see above during the first quarter of it's 62-7 rout of Putnam High (Putnam, Ore.). Following an early touchdown, the Bowmen lined up in a traditional extra point formation and appeared content to attempt the traditional point-after-touchdown.
That's when things got weird. The designated holder turned from his spot on a knee in front of kicker Martin Layna, swiveled toward the sideline and began hopping off while screeching like a monkey. As defenders began to confusedly stare at the now-hopping holder, Layna called for the snap and rushed straight ahead at full speed, with the 5-foot-5, 240-pounder looking just like -- you guessed it -- a wrecking ball.
The forward rush into the end zone seems like a natural conclusion for the play, right? Not for Sherwood. Just before Layna reached the line of scrimmage he released a lofted pass to the back of the end zone, intended for enormous 6-foot-11 tight end Jordan Kurahara. Against Putnam it worked to perfection, handing the Bowmen an extra point early.
Sherwood coach Greg Lawrence discussed the wild conversion with MaxPreps on Monday, and insisted that the creative attempt was borne out of the program's need to keep all of its players active and engaged as the season rolls on, even if they play only marginal roles in the team's main offensive and defensive units.
"We have 32 seniors," Lawrence told MaxPreps. "We're trying to get of them in on special teams. We've been winning most games. We've been crushing everyone, so we've been trying to find things to make it fun for the kids.
"One of our other senior linemen asked if he could come off like a monkey, pick the tee up, and hop off the field like a monkey. Our special teams coach said 'Sure, why not? Let's do it.'"
Of course, the conversion against Putnam wasn't Sherwood's first unique two-point attempt this year. The Bowmen also used the vexing misdirection fake naked bootleg pass you see directly above during the team's victory against Hermiston High (Hermiston, Ore.) earlier in the 2013 season, as dug up by MaxPreps.
Given the Bowmen's pitch perfect execution of bizarre, intricate PAT plays, perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that the team is currently undefeated at 9-0 and will enter the Oregon Class 5A playoffs heavily favored to take home the state title.
Perhaps they'll even showcase another trick play or two during their forthcoming playoff run for good measure.
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