Giant Mistake Costs New York Game

By
ABC News
January 7, 2006, 5:08 AM ET
2 min read

J A C K S O N V I L L E, Fla., Aug. 12, 2000 -- Joe Pisarcik got some company.

New York Giants rookies Jack Golden and Fred Lewis combined foran unlikely bobble Friday night, transforming Lewis’ interceptioninto a crazy, game-winning touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It was just an exhibition game, but it was on national TV, andthe play that ended Jacksonville’s 16-13 victory is one that couldbe long remembered.

Trying to force a pass into the end zone during a late,desperation drive, Jaguars quarterback Jonathan Quinn threw aninterception to Lewis, who was standing just outside the end zone.

Lewis’ momentum brought him into the end zone, but as he crossedthe goal line again, teammate Jack Golden tried to tackle him,hoping Lewis would go down and essentially end the game. ButGolden’s hit popped the ball loose, it squirted to the back of theend zone, and fourth-string Jags tight end Brandon Christensonrecovered for the game-winning touchdown with 7 seconds left.

Teams Stunned

Nobody in either locker room could remember anything like it.

“It was the most amazing play I’ve ever been involved in,”said Christenson, who thus far had done little to distinguishhimself at training camp. “It just shows that you should keepplaying, keep playing and see what happens. I’ll take whatever Ican get. I need all the help I can get.”

Quinn finished 8-for-23 for 94 yards and struggled except forthe late drive in which he converted two fourth-and-longs beforehis “game-winning” interception.

“It was a weird feeling,” he said. “But any way you look atit, it’s a win.”

Suddenly, Pisarcik — who bobbled a handoff to Larry Csonka in1978 when the Giants should have simply taken a knee againstPhiladelphia — had company.

“All week, coach stressed being smart and making smart plays,”Golden said. “I saw Freddie catch the ball, and my first instinctwas to get him down. I made a mistake. I plan on bouncing back fromit.”

“It was just a stupid play by me,” Lewis said. “Just a badplay by two rookies.”

The Jaguars were flabbergasted, but not happy, with theirvictory.

“The good thing about this game is we kept on playing,” coachTom Coughlin said. “It certainly isn’t the way you would draw itup, but I give credit to Brandon for being the right man at theright spot at the right time.”