2009 Week 8

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) - Who hasn't refused to absorb the mild statistical hit by not taking a knee late in a game, only to fumble and fall prey to a miracle comeback?

It's embarrassing, it pisses you off and you vow never to do such a stupid thing again.

Until you once again tempt fate and get burned by the gremlins lurking within the game's coding.

Actually, that's never happened to B-Dawg, but he did produce a choke job of even more epic proportions.

Life was good for the Eastern Michigan Hurons on Oct. 24, 2009 against Miami of Ohio. Quarterback Wallace Stone had just run 12 yards for a touchdown with 1:32 left in the game, putting the Hurons ahead 38-31.

Life got even better for EMU when cornerback Ryan Downard picked off a pass on Miami's first play from scrimmage following the kickoff.

It wouldn't last.

B-Dawg had the controller on his lap and was jotting down a note for this dyNASTY report. That's not unusual, as he generally lets the CPU do his dirty work on defense. However, Downard was returning the ball when he heard Brad Nessler exclaim, "He picks it off and that's gonna wrap it up."

B-Dawg quickly fumbled for his controller on the return and accidentally hit the pitch button as Downard was being tackled by receiver Mike Anderson. The ball went backward toward the nearest Huron, who was cornerback Lorenzo Seaberry. Problem was, Seaberry was flat on his back, not in a very good position to catch the pitch. Seaberry seemed frozen in time as the ball laid there forever until receiver Donovan Potter scooped it up.

Well, you know how this is going to end. You don't have such a catastrophic turn of events and live to tell about it.

Potter ran the fumble back 69 yards for a touchdown to tie the game with 1:07 remaining.

EMU got the ball back, but quarterback Wallace Stone threw his 14th interception in seven games this season on third-and-10. Defensive end Travis Craven dropped into zone coverage and picked off a curl route intended for Dontayo Gage with 33 seconds to go.

Miami got the ball at EMU's 31-yard line and moved to the 4-yard line before bringing on Trevor Cook on third down for the game-winning 21-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining.

The Hurons walked off on the losing end of a 41-38 final when quarterback Andy Schmitt, brought in because of his superior throwing ratings, rolled right and went smack into a corner blitz by Jeff Thompson. The clock ticked down before EMU could get off another play.

Has there ever been a worst gaffe in the history of video games?

We think not.

"My bad," B-Dawg said. "I've missed extra points before while holding a pen after taking notes and I've let the CPU take care of the play many times without paying attention because of my note-taking. This was the only time I can say it cost me a game. I had no clue what was happening until Ryan was getting tackled. I would typically run the return man toward the sideline in that situation so that if he fumbles, there's a chance the ball goes out of bounds. I'm sick to my stomach right now. This game was ours and I blew it. It was tough facing those kids in the locker room after the game. We all know who is to blame for this loss."

If such a debacle were to take place, this was the appropriate setting. There were 11 turnovers in the game, seven by Miami. Weather was not a factor.

"I've probably never lost a game when the opponent has made seven turnovers," B-Dawg said. "It just doesn't happen. You have to do some truly wretched ish yourself to lose a game when the CPU is handing it to you on a silver freakin' platter."

EMU nearly blew the game a little earlier in the fourth quarter. Halfback Greg White fumbled on third-and-five with 3:18 remaining while the Hurons were content to just set up the ball in the middle of the field for a go-ahead field goal. Miami's Jordan Stevens recovered, only to lose the ball while being tripped up by lineman Ross Petersen. Offensive tackle Dan DeMaster recovered for the Hurons, giving them a first down and a chance to run some more clock and eventually get the go-ahead touchdown a 12-yard option keeper by Stone, capping a 14-play, 71-yard drive.

It was the fourth touchdown of the game for Stone, who ran 13 times for 148 yards. However, Stone threw two costly interceptions. The first was returned 48 yards for a touchdown by Donnie Hardy to put Miami ahead 28-24 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter. Stone made up for it with a 55-yard touchdown run on EMU's next series. The second deadly interception was Craven's pick that set up the winning field goal.

"We've been able to live with Wallace's poor passing so far this year," B-Dawg said. "His running has more than made up for it. Today, it bit us in the butt, but we still should never have given up the tying touchdown the way we did. It was our game. It was in the bag. We let 'em off the hook."

Both teams are in contention in their respective divisions. Miami improved to 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference and 4-3 overall. EMU is 4-3 overall, 2-1 in the MAC.

The game got a Greatest Game score of 927 points.