Bryan Mills Blocked Kick Return: Pacific University's Head Up Play Results In Unlikely Score (VIDEO)

Lewis & Clark University is named for the pair of pioneering Americans who explored the interior of the continent as they made their way to the Pacific Ocean. On Saturday, L&C's aptly-named Pioneers football team visited Pacific University. Hmmm....

This time around it was Pacific's Bryan Mills who made a long, arduous cross-field trek.

After Pacific blocked a point after attempt in the first quarter, a Lewis & Clark player picked up the ball. But he threw it to the ground and began walking to the sidelines, along with every other player on the field -- except Mills. Noticing that his opponent had carelessly discarded the ball, the sophomore defensive back picked it up immediately and began making his way down the sideline. He caught everyone off-guard, including the game's play-by-play team.

While Mills' attention to detail was impressive, his attempt to return the ball for two points seemed like it wasn't going to get very far. Members of the Lewis & Clark special teams unit caught up with Mills around their 40-yard-line, but remarkably, he was able to break four tackles on his way to the end zone.

Mills' effort, while spectacular, wasn't enough as his team would ultimately fall to Lewis & Clark 61-35. On the other hand, it was impressive enough to garner the honor of being named SportsCenter's top play, providing some much needed publicity for a Pacific football program that is just in its second year of action after taking a 17-year hiatus from the sport.

WATCH VIDEO AT THE TOP

Comments

[jwb2013]

12:37 PM on 10/06/2011

funny...there are more players than could fit in the bleechers. and more players than spectators.

[Lefty88]

07:20 AM on 10/06/2011

Exciting play, but I feel bad for #70 who seemed to be knocked out cold during the run-back and was unattended until finally getting up (sort of) under his own power. I guess with this in mind I'm a little relieved our kids were more interested in playing in the band during games than playing the actual game. I absolutely football, but I wonder how my heart could take seeing one of our children go down and lay motionless like that.

[Jessie Laurence]

11:55 PM on 10/05/2011

Agh. I watched the play happen. So confusing for all parties involved

[oldstuff]

09:16 PM on 10/05/2011

I love that there are houses just outside of the end zone.

[belldn3]

07:54 PM on 10/05/2011

Never give up on a play.

[newlook123]

07:50 PM on 10/05/2011

Interesting play for 2 points fun to watch, but how many players can a team have on the sidelines. Looks like half the school is on the football team.

[Lucy Duck]

08:12 PM on 10/05/2011

Thats funny, I hadnt even noticed that until you mentioned something. Theres like 200 kids down there WOW

[UrbanAnna]

05:54 PM on 10/05/2011

What a great play!

[Brandis Piper]

05:46 PM on 10/05/2011

This play in the 61-35 Lewis & Clark BLOWOUT of Pacific should not have even happened. The play should have been blown dead not because of the forward progress, but because it was a forward pass that should have been called incomplete...

[branrat11]

08:33 PM on 10/05/2011

Shut up. Are you really gonna whine and complain about this? Thats awesome that this kid broke FOUR tackles to get two points. Relax. I might be wrong but im pretty sure its just high school football

[wmhlang]

04:46 PM on 10/05/2011

:But he threw it to the ground and began walking to the sidelines, along with every other player on the field -- except Mills."

Nobody left the field, LOL

[Kiwifriend]

10:22 PM on 10/05/2011

Doesn't say they left the field, says they were walking to the sidelines (however before they got very far they realized what happened and took off down the field)

[Chris Shearin]

03:31 PM on 10/05/2011

the ball should have been blown dead. Its like when a play is blown dead before a runner is actually tacked because of forward progress. When all players on the field have given up on the play as you can clearly see, it was more than a handfull of secconds after the PAT attempt that this player picked up the ball and began running. If all players have given up on the play then the whistle should then have been blown

[wmhlang]

04:47 PM on 10/05/2011

Fail. Catch up on football rules.

[charleshmcgill]

07:19 PM on 10/05/2011

Maybe not "Fail". Did you see the NY Giants play last Sunday? A receiver went down untouched after a catch. The ball was live and a defensive player fell on it. The refs ruled the player had "given himself up" and gave the ball back to the Giants and they scored the game winning touchdown a few plays later. Maybe it's just 'special rules' because it's the Giants, who knows? I remember an 'in the grasp' play in a SuperBowl where the Giants won when the refs failed to make a call.

[fuzzynormal]

05:35 PM on 10/05/2011

Hey Chris, ever watch American football or understand the rules?

[Chris Shearin]

03:02 PM on 10/07/2011

yea, apparently you dont

[nyrd]

03:16 PM on 10/05/2011

Even though Lewis & Clark destroyed Pacific.... I will always only remember them as the team that gave this play up. It will be the topic of conversation should I ever run into anyone who is associated with the school.

[Nhia Vang]

02:54 PM on 10/05/2011

There was holding in this play on the thirty-yard line. It should be call for. Replay it and see it for yourself.

[gov111w]

03:13 PM on 10/05/2011

Its only holding if the Ref sees it and calls it !!!!!!!!!!

[karlbmiles]

05:45 PM on 10/05/2011

You're right, I saw it too. Later downfield a guy got knocked unconscious on the side line and everybody ignored him. Lousy refs.

[lite9389]

02:50 PM on 10/05/2011

The announcer's reaction was great! LOL!!!

[pegg15]

02:35 PM on 10/05/2011

I do not understand why you think these two Colleges would play by high school rules

[fredpa]

02:32 PM on 10/05/2011

Credit the refs for not assuming the play was over.