BERRY TRAMEL

Miami Miracle came from a play called Boise

Berry Tramel
Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake (32) scores to defeat the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP)

By now, you’ve seen the Miami Miracle – the 69-yard, hook-and-lateral-and-run that gave the Dolphins a 34-33 victory over the Patriots last Sunday.

And maybe you’ve heard the name of the play.

Boise.

Sorry to pick at a scab, but what lasting power has the Oklahoma-Boise State Fiesta Bowl. Now 12 years old, Boise State’s remarkable 43-42 overtime victory hasn’t lost its oomph. The Broncos’ remarkable bag of tricks that made up a 35-28 deficit in the final seconds hasn’t been forgotten.

The Statue of Liberty 2-point conversion. The tailback pass for an overtime touchdown, out of a direct snap. And the 50-yard hook-and-lateral in the final seconds of regulation that gave Boise State a chance. Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky threw to Drisan James, just outside the 40-yard line. James then pitched the ball to the circling Jerard Rabb. Rabb found an open sideline and dashed to a stunning touchdown.

Football had seen the hook-and-lateral before. Heck, OU beat Nebraska in 1976 in large part because of a great hook-and-lateral. One of the greatest games in NFL history, San Diego’s epic 41-38 victory over the Dolphins in the 1981 playoffs, included a 40-yard, Miami hook-and-lateral for a first-half ending touchdown.

But for David-and-Goliath reasons, the Oklahoma-Boise State game has stayed with football people.

When NBC Sports’ Peter King asked Miami Miracle hero Kenyan Drake why the play was called “Boise,” Drake had an easy answer.

“You know, as a testament to that Boise State-Oklahoma game,” Drake said.

Deadspin’s Barry Petchesky wrote about the Dolphins-Boise State connection, which you can read here

A sampling: “The Miami Miracle was, like any even-half-decent football play, lovingly swiped. In this case, from one of the greatest college football game ever played: Boise State vs. Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. The Dolphins’ last gasp was supposed to be the relatively simple hook and lateral that Boise State used to tie up that game at the end of regulation. (Remember?) Except, as Ryan Tannehill noted, those Broncos ‘ran it a little cleaner’ than Miami did. Still worked, though.”

Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a 15-yard pass to ex-Sooner Kenny Stills, who turned and flipped the ball sideways to DeVante Parker. Parker ran about five yards before lateralling to Drake, who weaved about 50 yards through the befuddled Patriots for the most unlikely of touchdowns.

Crazy, crazy finish. A play that well-earned its name of Boise, even if it gives Sooner fans the willies.