School soccer’s High 25 performs since 2000

A school soccer recreation ensures you sure issues. You’re going to get the combat songs. You’re going to get tailgate smells. And you recognize that, it doesn’t matter what recreation you are attending — perhaps it is a storied rivalry recreation such because the Iron Bowl or Purple River, perhaps it is a Friday evening Louisville-Syracuse affair, and perhaps it is even a Division III recreation like Trinity-Millsaps — you may see one thing you’ve by no means seen, one thing you could not have envisioned, one thing you may be speaking about 25 years later.

Beneath are the highest 25 performs of the 2000s, as voted on by ESPN school soccer writers. Some determined nationwide titles, some offered all-time rivalry bragging rights, and all of them are caught in our reminiscences eternally. This sport places us by a great quantity of nonsense typically, however the video games, and the best performs, make every little thing value it.

Eight ESPN writers and two editors nominated the highest performs since 2000. Fifty-one performs have been nominated and the eight writers ranked performs from 1 to 25, with 25 factors awarded for first-place votes, 24 for second place and persevering with till 1 level was awarded for a play voted at No. 25. Beneath is the results of these votes.

1. Kick-six | Nov. 30, 2013

The play was gorgeous, one of the inconceivable endings in school soccer historical past, as Auburn’s Chris Davis raced 109 yards for a landing after Alabama kicker Adam Griffith was quick on a 57-yard subject objective try with one second remaining within the 2013 Iron Bowl. Alabama coach Nick Saban argued to have one second put again on the clock after Tide operating again T.J. Yeldon was knocked out of bounds. Griffith was despatched in to attempt the lengthy subject objective with the rating tied 28-28 after Cade Foster had already missed three subject targets. After fielding the kick deep in the long run zone, Davis tiptoed down the left sideline earlier than breaking into the open subject and into the tip zone, the place he was mobbed by teammates, cameramen and followers.

The loss saved Saban and the beforehand unbeaten Crimson Tide from taking part in for what would have been their third straight nationwide championship. Auburn superior to the ultimate BCS nationwide championship recreation, the place the Tigers in Gus Malzahn’s first season as coach misplaced to Florida State within the last seconds.

It is a play that can reside within the hearts of Auburn followers, who can nonetheless hear the varsity’s radio play-by-play announcer, the late Rod Bramblett, screaming “Auburn’s going to win the soccer recreation!” as Davis crossed the objective line. — Chris Low

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2. Boise State trickeration | Jan. 1, 2007

Boise State’s “hook and ladder” and “Statue of Liberty” performs go collectively — like Ian Johnson and Chrissy Popadics. With Oklahoma main 35-28 late within the Fiesta Bowl, Boise State confronted fourth-and-18 from midfield when Broncos coach Chris Petersen known as for the “hook and ladder.” Jared Zabransky accomplished a cross to Drisan James, who lateralled the ball to receiver Jerard Rabb and he went 50 yards to tie the rating at 35 with seven seconds remaining.

The Broncos trailed 42-41 in extra time once they lined up for a 2-point conversion. Zabransky took the snap and saved the ball behind his again, the place it was grabbed by Johnson, a operating again, on the “Statue of Liberty” play. Johnson then ran uncontested to the nook of the tip zone to present the Broncos the gorgeous 43-42 win. After a wild celebration, Johnson bought on one knee and proposed to Popadics, who tearfully accepted in entrance of a sellout crowd and a nationwide tv viewers. — Heather Dinich

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3. Invincibowl | Jan. 4, 2006

Vince Younger did not win the 2005 Heisman Trophy. The truth is, USC operating again Reggie Bush obtained 705 extra first-place votes. However the Texas quarterback nonetheless produced arguably the most effective particular person season this century, culminating with one in all school soccer’s most memorable all-time performs.

Trailing within the Rose Bowl with a nationwide championship on the road, the Longhorns confronted fourth-and-5 within the waning seconds in opposition to the Trojans, the defending nationwide champs. However Younger scrambled proper, then dashed previous the pylon for the game-winning landing, lifting the unbeaten Longhorns to their first nationwide title in 35 years. — Jake Trotter

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4. Tua’s toss | Jan. 8, 2018

The nationwide title recreation on the finish of the 2017 season got here at you in waves. Georgia dominated and led 13-0 at halftime. Alabama subbed in freshman Tua Tagovailoa and charged again to tie the rating, however the Tide missed a simple subject objective try on the buzzer. Georgia moved backward in OT however nailed a 51-yard subject objective. Tagovailoa took an atrocious sack and misplaced 16 yards. Bama had management however misplaced it, and now Georgia was about to lastly topple the Tide.

After which, with no timeout and with the constructing nonetheless buzzing, Tagovailoa calmly regarded off the safeties, then fired again to a fellow freshman for probably the most thrilling, breathless ending to a nationwide title recreation within the School Soccer Playoff period. — Invoice Connelly

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5. ‘The Horror’ | Sept. 1, 2007

There have been main upsets on this sport, however few shook the earth just like the day Appalachian State went into Michigan Stadium and surprised the winningest program of all time. Michigan entered the 2007 season ranked No. 5, and although Appalachian State had received consecutive nationwide titles in school soccer’s second rung, Division I-AA (now FCS), the Vegas books did not place a line on the sport.

A Division I-AA staff had by no means crushed a ranked Division I-A staff, and Michigan had by no means performed an I-AA opponent. However coach Jerry Moore’s staff led 28-17 at halftime earlier than Michigan stormed again to steer 32-31 after a 2-point conversion with 4:36 left. Then, Appalachian State drove downfield for a subject objective. Michigan amazingly reached subject objective vary on Chad Henne’s cross to Mario Manningham, however Appalachian State’s Corey Lynch stormed in to dam Jason Gingell’s subject objective try and raced downfield as time expired.

The phrases of Appalachian State radio broadcaster David Jackson resonate: “The Mountaineers have simply crushed the Michigan Wolverines!” So do these of Michigan blogger Brian Cook dinner, who merely referred to the sport as, “The Horror.” — Adam Rittenberg

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6. ‘Six’ | Nov. 1, 2008

No play represented the Air Raid’s playground-type simplicity higher than 4 verticals, what architect Hal Mumme known as “Six” as a result of everybody ran deep for six factors. Mike Leach, Mumme’s protégé, turned Texas Tech into giant-killers operating the offense, and landed the Purple Raiders’ greatest upset blow with that play after “School GameDay’s” first go to to Lubbock.

Trailing No. 1 Texas at dwelling, 33-32, with eight seconds left, Graham Harrell threw a back-shoulder ball to Michael Crabtree on the Texas 6, and as an alternative of stepping out of bounds with one second left, Crabtree broke a sort out, bought six and ruined Texas’ nationwide title hopes, cementing Texas Tech’s greatest win in class historical past on a magical evening in Lubbock. — Dave Wilson

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7. Prayer at Jordan-Hare | Nov. 16, 2013

Watch The Prayer in Jordan-Hare proper NOW on the @SECNetwork.#WarEagle | #SECNTakeover pic.twitter.com/KNh22hZIQU

— Auburn Soccer (@AuburnFootball) July 20, 2017

The Kick-Six would not have been practically as memorable had it not been for the Prayer at Jordan-Hare two weeks earlier. The Tigers have been all the way down to a fourth-and-18 gasp from their 27 when quarterback Nick Marshall launched a deep ball down the center of the sector. Georgia defensive backs Josh Harvey-Clemons and Tray Matthews have been each in nice place to interrupt up the Hail Mary, and Matthews regarded like he was going to intercept the cross.

However Harvey-Clemons tipped it to Auburn receiver Ricardo Louis, who bobbled it briefly on his fingertips and by no means broke stride for a 73-yard landing with 25 seconds remaining. Auburn’s miraculous 43-38 win paved the way in which for an additional miracle two Saturdays later in opposition to Alabama and finally an look within the 2013 nationwide championship recreation. — Low

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8. Give up cobra | Oct. 17, 2015

The 2015 Michigan State-Michigan ending created a meme and popularized a phrase. The Wolverines led 23-21 with 10 seconds remaining. However punter Blake O’Neill muffed a low snap and Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped it up. He raced into the tip zone as time expired, giving the Spartans the inconceivable comeback victory.

The ESPN broadcast instantly panned to Michigan pupil Chris Baldwin, who had his arms on his head in disbelief, finally producing probably the most viral give up cobra. Watts-Jackson broke his hip as he was tackled into the tip zone. However he headed to the hospital as a Spartans legend. — Trotter

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9. Superman | Oct. 6, 2001

The “Superman” leap embodied Oklahoma’s dominance over Texas — and a five-game profitable streak within the collection — by the early 2000s. With the Longhorns pinned at their 2-yard line, co-defensive coordinators Mike Stoops and Brent Venables (now OU’s head coach) dialed up the “Slamdogs” blitz, calling for Williams to shoot by the hole between the left sort out and guard from the security place.

Williams soared over the hole as an alternative, crashing into the chest of quarterback Chris Simms. The collision popped the ball into the arms of linebacker Teddy Lehman, who waltzed into the tip zone to seal a 14-3 victory. — Trotter

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10. Champions* | Jan. 3, 2003

Maybe probably the most questionable cross interference name in school soccer historical past, the penalty on Miami’s Glenn Sharpe in extra time within the 2003 Fiesta Bowl prevented the Hurricanes from repeating as nationwide champions and cementing their dynasty. With one play left to maintain their season alive, Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel dropped again to cross on fourth-and-3 from the 5-yard line, throwing for Chris Gamble in the long run zone. The cross fell incomplete, and Miami gamers and workers ran onto the sector in celebration. Besides … Terry Porter, the sector decide, threw a flag a number of seconds after the play ended, a delay that added to the mass confusion that adopted and resulted within the widespread second-guessing of the decision (for these outdoors Columbus, Ohio, that’s).

The officers huddled and known as cross interference on Sharpe. With a contemporary set of downs, Ohio State scored to ship the sport right into a second extra time and received the sport 31-24. — Andrea Adelson

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11. Clowney ‘automobile wreck’ | Jan. 1, 2013

Jadeveon Clowney was a 6-foot-6, 274-pound, hulking defensive finish who grew to become the face of South Carolina’s renaissance underneath coach Steve Spurrier. He got here to South Carolina because the nation’s prime recruit and would depart because the No. 1 decide within the 2014 NFL draft. However his most memorable school play got here within the 2013 Outback Bowl in opposition to Michigan, which led 22-21 halfway by the fourth quarter.

Michigan had possession after a controversial first-down name on a faux punt, and gave the ball to Vincent Smith, its 5-foot-6, 175-pound operating again. Clowney rumbled by Michigan’s line untouched and met Smith, who was simply receiving the ball. Smith’s helmet and the ball went flying, and Clowney recovered. “It seemed like a automobile wreck,” South Carolina defensive sort out J.T. Surratt stated. South Carolina received 33-28, and Clowney earned an ESPY for the hit. — Rittenberg

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12. ‘Oh my gracious!’ | Nov. 10, 2012

In 2012, Johnny Manziel led Texas A&M into the SEC, and rolled into Tuscaloosa as 14-point underdogs to No. 1 Alabama. He left as Johnny Soccer, a Heisman favourite as only a redshirt freshman. Trying again, it was a star-studded affair: Coach Kevin Sumlin’s first-year offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, outdueled Nick Saban and Kirby Sensible in a 29-24 upset, with Manziel finishing 24 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two TDs, with one other 18 carries for 92 yards. Manziel’s Heisman second was cemented within the third quarter when he prevented a sack, bounced off an Alabama defender, bobbled the ball, caught it, rolled left and located Ryan Swope behind the tip zone.

“Obtained him!” Verne Lundquist stated because the play unfolded. “No they did not! Oh my gracious!” he exclaimed, and a legend was born. — Wilson

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13. ‘Orange Crush’ | Jan. 9, 2017

The play eternally generally known as “Orange Crush” delivered Clemson its second nationwide title in class historical past within the 2017 nationwide championship recreation and the primary underneath coach Dabo Swinney. In an epic back-and-forth recreation, Alabama had scored to go forward 31-28 with 2:07 left. Loads of time remaining for the Tigers offense. Quarterback Deshaun Watson marched them down the sector, reaching the 2-yard line with six seconds left.

Watson discovered Hunter Renfrow in the long run zone for the profitable rating — thanks, partially, to a rub route Artavis Scott ran to present Renfrow simply sufficient area to get open. Clemson scored with one second left to win 35-31. — Adelson

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14. Bush Push | Oct. 15, 2005

By itself, the “Bush Push” of 2005 wasn’t one thing to marvel at. With top-ranked USC trailing Notre Dame 31-28 with seven seconds left in South Bend, Indiana, Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner — appeared to have been stopped quick on a stunning quarterback sneak try, just for Reggie Bush to shove him within the chest, propelling him throughout the objective line.

The push violated the NCAA rulebook, however was not penalized, giving USC a key win because it continued its march to the BCS Nationwide Championship recreation. — Bonagura

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15. Reggie within the fog | Oct. 23, 2004

There could possibly be a listing of Reggie Bush’s greatest 25 performs at USC, however few are as iconic as his 65-yard punt return within the fog at Oregon State in 2004. Reser Stadium was a home of horrors for the Trojans through the years, and because the top-ranked Trojans clung to a one-point lead within the fourth quarter, Bush delivered.

He spun away from the primary tackler, traversed again throughout the sector earlier than outrunning the OSU defenders to the tip zone. — Bonagura

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16. Soar cross I | Oct. 7, 2006

Always remember when Tim Tebow pulled out the notorious bounce cross in opposition to LSU 😳

The No. 7 Gators head to Demise Valley this weekend for an undefeated matchup with the No. 5 Tigers. pic.twitter.com/hStXtIQgjF

— ESPN School Soccer (@ESPNCFB) October 11, 2019

Solely a freshman, Tim Tebow launched himself to the faculty soccer world in 2006 as Florida received the primary of two nationwide championships over the following three seasons. He was primarily a short-yardage specialist that yr at quarterback behind starter Chris Leak. Tebow’s first profession landing cross got here in a key 23-10 win over No. 9 LSU. He took the snap, began towards the road of scrimmage as if he was going to run after which went airborne, pump-faking, and lobbing a 1-yard landing cross to tight finish Tate Casey behind the tip zone.

Tebow received the Heisman Trophy the following yr after which duplicated his bounce cross as a junior with a game-sealing, 4-yard landing to David Nelson in opposition to Oklahoma to steer the Gators to the 2008 nationwide championship. — Low

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t17. Bluegrass Miracle | Nov. 9, 2002

“Essentially the most surprising, inconceivable, unbelievable sequence of occasions.” That is how announcer Dave Neal described it. Exhausting to get extra correct than that. Devery Henderson could not have simply caught Marcus Randall’s Hail Mary bomb on the ultimate play of LSU’s surprising 33-30 win over Kentucky — he was nonetheless greater than 20 yards from the tip zone when it got here down, and he would have been tackled. Henderson wanted the ball to pinball round for a second earlier than he lastly secured it as he was racing previous Kentucky’s final two defenders.

Kentucky had erased a late, 10-point deficit and hit the go-ahead subject objective with simply 11 seconds remaining. Wildcat gamers had already hit coach Man Morriss with the Gatorade bathtub. After which LSU dedicated grand larceny with a 74-yard Hail Mary Plus. — Connelly

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t17. Eight laterals of chaos | Oct. 31, 2015

Even now, what unfolded on Halloween evening in 2015 in Durham, North Carolina, appears unfathomable. Duke took a 27-24 lead over Miami on a quarterback run with six seconds remaining. Then, chaos ensued. On the following kickoff, Ross Martin squibbed the ball, and Dallas Crawford fielded it on the 25-yard line. From there, eight laterals: Crawford threw backward to Corn Elder, who tossed the ball to Jaquan Johnson as Duke defenders closed in. Johnson then tossed the ball to Mark Walton, who threw it to Johnson simply as he was being taken to the bottom. Johnson then flipped it to Tyre Brady, who despatched it again to Elder on the 5-yard line. Elder gave it again to Crawford earlier than giving it again to Elder.

At that time, Miami had blockers out in entrance and Elder had the velocity to evade would-be tacklers and rating in an inconceivable what-did-I-just-see second. Officers picked up a flag that had been thrown earlier within the mayhem, and the landing stood. The ACC introduced the next day that the officers botched the ultimate play and it shouldn’t have counted. — Adelson

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19. Reed wrestles it away | Nov. 10, 2001

With Miami clinging to a 12-7 lead with simply over 20 seconds left within the recreation, Boston School quarterback Brian St. Pierre had the ball on the Canes’ 9-yard line. He tried to finish a cross to Ryan Learn close to the 2-yard line, but it surely was low and ricocheted off Miami cornerback Ed Rumph’s left knee.

Defensive sort out Matt Walters grabbed it on the 10 and rumbled 10 extra yards earlier than Reed took the ball from him and outraced a BC defender 80 yards to the tip zone. What made this play so memorable was Reed’s imaginative and prescient and resolution to wrestle the ball out of his 262-pound teammate’s arms to maintain the interception return — and Miami’s probability on the nationwide title — alive. — Dinich

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20. ‘Gravedigger’ | Nov. 25, 2023

The legendary performs within the Iron Bowl are too many to rely, however Jalen Milroe-to-Isaiah Bond on fourth-and-goal from the 31 ranks with any of them. Auburn, struggling by a dropping season in Hugh Freeze’s first yr on the Plains, seemingly had the sport received in what would have been a large upset. With the Jordan-Hare Stadium crowd roaring, Alabama was pushed again to the 31 after initially having a first-and-goal from the 7. Solely 43 seconds remained, and Auburn rushed simply two defenders. Milroe stood within the pocket for 5 seconds earlier than delivering a strike within the left nook of the tip zone to a leaping Bond for the game-winning landing and a 27-24 win in what was Nick Saban’s last Iron Bowl.

“I am not going to lie. Earlier than I even caught the ball, I knew we would received. As quickly because it went within the air, I stated, ‘Yeah, that is going to be recreation,'” stated Bond, revealing after the sport that the play was known as “Gravedigger.” — Low

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21. Black 41 Flash Reverse Cross | Oct. 27, 2001

Exhausting to imagine it has already been 15 years… Thanks #HuskerNation for making this second so particular! #GBR #Black41FlashReverse pic.twitter.com/hePzCpRThX

— Eric Crouch (@croucheric) October 27, 2016

On his option to the Heisman Trophy in 2001, Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch delivered one of many best performs in class historical past. His heroics largely got here from operating the choice, however on this play in opposition to Oklahoma, Crouch handed off the ball, peeled out into the flat and up the sector as a receiver. The unique ball provider, Thunder Collins, handed it to Mike Stuntz on a reverse, and he hit Crouch sprinting down the sideline for a 63-yard landing.

The stunning playcall got here with No. 2 Nebraska main No. 3 Oklahoma within the fourth quarter and clinched the win. — Bonagura

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22. 61-second spectacle | Oct. 27, 2007

Glad anniversary to the best school soccer play in historical past! Trinity College Miracle Lateral Play: https://t.co/JhFMMnLcmW @ESPNCFB @espn @PTI @TUFootballTX pic.twitter.com/UhuAs8TRZ0

— Trinity College (@Trinity_U) October 27, 2021

Fifteen laterals, 61 yards, 61 seconds. This was the longest play on this listing. Beginning on the Trinity 39, the ball bought to the Millsaps 42, then retreated to the Trinity 45, then moved again to the Millsaps 41, then retreated once more to the Trinity 41, then moved from proper to left, forwards and backwards.

After greater than 45 seconds, issues bought sloppy. The ball hit the bottom a few instances, the laterals grew much less correct … and Riley Curry, who had additionally caught the primary, seventh and eleventh laterals, picked up a bouncing ball and raced 34 yards for perhaps the least probably landing of the 2000s. After we see groups trying laterals that we all know don’t have any probability of engaged on the final play of a recreation, they’re doing it as a result of, hey, it labored as soon as, did not it? — Connelly

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23. Nonsense masterpiece | Nov. 7, 2015

The sport had already been a nonsense masterpiece earlier than we bought to extra time. We had already seen greater than 1,100 yards of offense, 90 factors and 7 tying scores. Neither staff had led by greater than seven factors. However Ole Miss lastly had issues underneath management: Chad Kelly’s landing run gave the Rebels the lead in extra time, and Arkansas confronted a fourth-and-25. Ole Miss was about to win the sport and, consequently, the SEC West.

Hunter Henry caught a cross properly behind the road of scrimmage and, rapidly hemmed in, had no alternative however to lob it behind him. By some means, after a deflection, it took precisely the bounce it wanted to take, and Alex Collins caught the ball on the Ole Miss 42 with room to run and strolled for the primary down. It was gorgeous. And the end result was preordained from there: Drew Morgan scored, Brandon Allen transformed the 2-pointer, and Bret Bielema’s Hogs had prevailed. — Connelly

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24. Cam can | Oct. 23, 2010

His Heisman 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.#tbt to this @CameronNewton run in opposition to LSU 🤯 pic.twitter.com/zZZ2Y1Qp78

— Auburn Soccer (@AuburnFootball) October 12, 2023

Newton’s 49-yard landing run within the third quarter in opposition to LSU was deemed his Heisman second the second he crossed the objective line, dragging All-American cornerback Patrick Peterson with him for the final 8 yards. 5 LSU defenders didn’t sort out Newton, together with defensive again Tyrann Mathieu, as Newton ran down the appropriate aspect of the sector and thru Mathieu’s knee-high sort out try.

Newton, 6-foot-6, 250 kilos, by some means steadied himself close to the appropriate hash mark, and in two extra strides, lower sharply again to the center of the sector. This was among the finest run defenses within the SEC, and Newton blew proper by it — and into school soccer historical past. — Dinich

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25. Lamar Leap | Sept. 9, 2016

Storylines typically get set early in school soccer seasons, and on a Friday evening in Week 2 of the 2016 marketing campaign, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson ensured that he could be the highest story all fall. After a formidable freshman season in 2015, Jackson started the next yr by setting ACC data for touchdowns accounted for (eight) and complete offense (610 yards) within the opener in opposition to Charlotte. He then went to the Provider Dome and rushed for 4 touchdowns, three within the first quarter.

However his most iconic play was the final scoring run, a 13-yarder within the second quarter. Jackson faked a handoff, sprinted to his left and hurdled over Syracuse defender Cordell Hudson, who lunged at him. The leap went viral and propelled Jackson towards profitable the Heisman Trophy that fall. — Rittenberg