Then, with 32 seconds remaining Staubach again lined up in the shotgun formation, took the snap, pump-faked left, then turned to his right and unloaded a desperation pass to Drew Pearson who was being covered by All-Pro cornerback Nate Wright. After a spectacular catch by Pearson on fourth and 17 brought the Cowboys to midfield with just 37 seconds left, Staubach then tried to hit running back Preston Pearson with a short pass over the middle, but the ball fell incomplete. The Cowboys started the game-winning drive with the ball on their own 15-yard line, trailing 14–10 with 1:50 left in the game. It stemmed from a post-game interview with Staubach who described his desperation by referencing the term from his Catholic faith.
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The term "Hail Mary pass" was introduced into the modern-day lexicon by the sporting press to characterize the famous Staubach-to-Pearson pass. As the article explained, "A ‘hail Mary’ pass, in the talk of the Washington eleven, is one that is thrown with a prayer because the odds against completion are big."ĭuring an NBC broadcast in 1963, Roger Staubach, then a Navy quarterback, described a pass play during his team’s victory over Michigan that year as a “Hail Mary play.” He scrambled to escape a pass rush, nearly getting sacked 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage before completing a desperation pass for a one-yard gain. Īn early appearance of the term was in an Associated Press story about the upcoming 1941 Orange Bowl, appearing in several newspapers including the DecemDaytona Beach Morning Journal under the headline, "Orange Bowl: Hoyas Put Faith in 'Hail Mary' Pass"). Notre Dame head coach Elmer Layden (who had played in the 1922 Georgia Tech game) afterwards called it a “Hail Mary” play. On November 2, 1935, with 32 seconds left in the so-called " Game of the Century" between Ohio State and Notre Dame, Irish halfback Bill Shakespeare found receiver Wayne Millner for a 19-yard, game-winning touchdown. After the game, Kizer exclaimed to Crowley, “Say, that Hail Mary is the best play we’ve got.” Crowley related this story many times in public speeches beginning in the 1930s. This time Stuhldreher ran for a touchdown, which sealed the win for Notre Dame. The ritual was repeated before a third and goal play, again at Tech’s six, in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, another of the Horsemen, threw a quick pass over the middle to Paul Castner for the score.
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According to Crowley, it was one of the team’s linemen, Noble Kizer (a Presbyterian), who suggested praying before the first touchdown, which occurred on a fourth and goal play at the Tech 6-yard line during the second quarter. The former Notre Dame halfback Jim Crowley often told the story of an October 28, 1922, game between Notre Dame and Georgia Tech in which the Fighting Irish players said Hail Mary prayers together before scoring each of the touchdowns, winning the game 13 to 3.