After nine years of Turkey Bowl football you would think there would be an abundance of plays to choose from to make the Top 10 Plays list, but that was not the case. Even though there were some plays that stuck out in everybody's minds it took a little bit of digging to round out the top 10. Despite the amount of thinking it took to remember some of these plays I am more than happy with the final product. Plays appearing on the list got there because of their importance to the game, their aesthetic beauty or their sheer impressiveness. Without further ado, here are the consensus top 10 plays in Turkey Bowl history.
10. Crooks laterals to Dougherty for the score - Turkey Bowl VI
With a final tally of 4-3, scoring was at a premium in Turkey Bowl VI. With touchdowns so hard to come by Chris Crooks' heads up play comes in at #10 on our list. With the score knotted at two QB Bill Pohlig hit Crooks on a crossing route; however he was stopped about 10 yards short of the goal line. While being tackled to the ground Crooks alertly flipped the ball behind him to an oncoming Tim Dougherty, who took the ball the final 10 yards for the TD.
9. Tim
Here is an example of a play that made the list based purely on it's aesthetics. The touchdown itself wasn't all that important, at the time Linebacker U was up 8-3 and the game was winding down. But this play shows that Tim Doc still displays some of the athleticism that made him an All Delco linebacker back in 1999. He rolls left to avoid the oncoming rush. Then, moving forward and off balance, has to jump to get anything on his throw, and still manages to fire a bullet to for the score.
8. Matt's diving catch - Turkey Bowl V
Another pitch and catch makes our list at #8. Unlike our #9 entry the reception, and not the throw, is what earned this play the eighth spot. The combination of Tim Dougherty to Matt Marcelli proved to be an effective one in Turkey Bowl V, and none of their connections was more dazzling than this hook up. Dougherty pumps once, then steps up and delivers a pass to a diving Marcelli. After his defender steps over him, Marcelli gets up untouched and goes the distance for the touchdown.
7. Tony's goal line sack - Turkey Bowl VI
Our first defensive play makes its appearance in the #7 spot. No sack in Turkey Bowl history has carried more weight than the one registered by Tony Laughlin in Turkey Bowl VI. With Old School clinging to a 4-3 lead, New School had worked their way down the field looking for the tying score. The drive had stalled out just short of the end zone and the New Schoolers had one last 4th down to try and knot the score; that's where Laughlin comes in. After chasing Paul Middleton all day, Laughlin was finally able to corral the New School QB on 4th & goal to preserve the victory for his squad.
6. Tim Doc's "Panther Swipe" - Turkey Bowl V
Another spot on the list, another Tim Dougherty play. This time it is his defensive acumen that garners the recognition. Usually a safety, Dougherty lined up at defensive line and used one of his few opportunities in the trenches to register a big play. Firing off the ball, Doc quickly bull rushes into the backfield where he ambushes Mike Trill with a move that has come to be known as the "Panther Swipe"; registering a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery all on one play.
5. "The Hook & Ladder" - Turkey Bowl III
There have been many trick plays attempted throughout the past nine years of Turkey Bowl football, but the most successful has to be the hook & ladder that was pulled off by THC in Turkey Bowl III. QB Tim Dougherty completed a short out pattern to a now forgotten receiver, who then pitched back to a streaking Paul Middleton who raced untouched down the left sideline. If my memory serves me correctly it might be the only successfully completed "trick play" in league history.
4. Mark's full field interception return - Turkey Bowl I
One of the biggest defensive plays in league history comes in at #4 on our list, and its no surprise that Mark Marcelli was the play maker behind it. After trailing 5-1 at halftime, Tim Dougherty lead his UnPhairs team on a furious come back; outscoring Team Possum 8-3 in the second half to capture a 9-8 lead. Needing just one score to secure the first Turkey Bowl victory ever Dougherty looked to be leading what would inevitably be the winning drive, but Mark had other plans. Mark (just 15 at the time) stepped in front of a pass in his own end zone and took it the length of the field for the tying score. His team would go on to win on...
3. "The Pushoff" - Turkey Bowl I
One of the most infamous plays in history makes the list at #3. Here's what we know for sure: After the aforementioned interception return the score was tied at nine. Team Possum had mounted a drive that lead them to the Unphair red zone. Being covered by Tim Dougherty, Chris Crooks managed to gain separation on a deep slant route and Mike Trill found him in the back of the end zone for the winning score. To this day its not known whether Crooks used offensive pass interference to create space; but no matter who tells the story the play will always be referred to as "The Push Off".
2. Paul's kickoff return - Turkey Bowl VIII
To fully grasp the weight of our #2 play you have keep in mind that in TFL contests, two hand touch is played during kickoffs. Despite this distinct advantage for the kicking team, Paul Middleton somehow managed to weave his way through the entire Bad Newz Kennels coverage unit and become the first person in TFL history to return a kickoff for a score. Impressive.
1. "The Strippage At Pritchard" - Turkey Bowl IV
Anyone who knows their history isn't shocked by our #1 play. Again, its the usual suspects of Mark Marcelli and Tim Dougherty who make this play go. After a back and forth battle between New School and Old School, Turkey Bowl IV was deadlocked at nine. The Old Schoolers were in possession of the ball and looking to escape Turkey Bowl IV with a win. Victory looked eminent for Old School when QB Rich DiNofia hit Tim Dougherty on a bomb to the New School 1 yard line. Just as Dougherty looked to be crossing the goal line for the winning score Mark came out of no where and stripped him of the ball, then recovered it all in one motion. After having victory snatched from their hands, Old School was defenseless in stopping New School from scoring and walking away with a 10-9 win. Even to this day, as I write this, I still can't believe what transpired on that play. I sit here shaking my head as I think about it. Watching from a little bit down field my hands were already raised in triumph. Any play that can have that much of an impact six years later definitely deserves to be recognized as the greatest play in Turkey Bowl history (at least for now).