Recently de-classified Steeldogs feature: "Our Miracle Minute"

Now, that my time with the Birmingham Alabama Steeldogs has passed, I'm finding stories that I begged my boss to allow me to publish, but to no avail. But screw that now.

This was 86'd because it showed weakness in the face of our biggest rival, who had already beaten us senseless 11 out of the 13 times we had played them. I'm sure this story would have really put us in a bind as far as winning the game would have been concerned.

Our Miracle Minute
Remember the Steeldogs' Greatest Game

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The af2's oldest series, inaugural matchup and fiercest rivalry is back as the Birmingham Steeldogs meet the Tennessee Valley Vipers this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. inside the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.

The game dates back to March 31, 2000, when the two teams met at the BJCC Arena for the af2's first-ever game. Before, during and ever-since that night, the rivalry has become an entity all to itself, prompting fans on both sides to make appropriate game preparations weeks in advance of kickoff.

In lieu of the renewal of "The War of I-65," the Steeldogs are getting an early start on celebrating an important anniversary: it's been two years since the af2's "Miracle Minute" and the greatest Steeldogs game ever played.

Now, arena football historians will tell you there is but only one "Miracle Minute." On June 19, 1992, in a game between the Orlando Predators and the now-defunct Detroit Drive, Orlando's Barry Wagner scored 16 points, recovered an onsides-kick and made a crucial tackle, all within 60 seconds, to power the Preds to a crucial 50-49 victory. The feat was recently hailed as the 11th greatest moment in the 20-year history of arena football.

Not to take away from Wagner's accomplisment, but Steeldogs and Vipers fans alike will tell you that what they witnessed almost two years ago at the BJCC Arena was just as miraculous.

May 29, 2004. Riding a six-game winning streak and having never beaten Tennessee Valley on their home turf, the Steeldogs host the Vipers in the 10th meeting of the series.

The game started out as a defensive grudge match. After scoring a touchdown on their first drive, the Steeldogs offense managed only one more trip to the paint. The team's 13 first-half points were far less than the 32 points they had averaged through the first two quarters in the previous seven games of the 2004 season.

Fortunately, the Steeldogs defense rose to the occasion, forcing the Vipers to lay a first half goose-egg. Tennessee Valley suffered through four missed field goals, an interception and two turnovers-on-downs in the opening two quarters alone.

The Steeldogs jump out to a 23-6 lead by the beginning of the fourth quarter, powered by a Rhett Gallego field goal and a long touchdown pass from Kenton Evans to Detronn Harris. But the Vipers fight back, narrowing the lead to 23-20 after two fourth quarter touchdowns and a handful of Steeldogs turnovers. The stage was now set for the af2's version of the "Miracle Minute."

Birmingham takes over possession with a three-point lead and 57 seconds remaining on the fourth quarter clock. On first and 10 from the Vipers' 20-yard line, FB/LB Dontae Walker is stripped of the football and Tennessee Valley's Henry Freeman recovers, setting the Vipers up at their own 18. Two plays later, Tennessee Valley captures the lead for the first time, 27-23, on a two-yard plunge by Jerrian James. Thirty-three seconds remain.

The Steeldogs start their final drive of the fourth quarter at their own 11-yard line with two timeouts remaining. QB Jeff Aaron completes a 12 yard pass across the middle to Harris, moving the ball out near midfield. Birmingham calls its second and third timeouts. Twenty-four seconds remain.

On the next play, Aaron drops back into the pocket, which quickly collapses, forcing him to step up and roll right. He spots a streaking Carlos McNeary making his move toward the back right corner of the endzone. He fires a bullet into McNeary's waiting arms, sending the crowd of nearly 7,500 into a frenzy. Gallego adds the extra point, putting Birmingham back on top, 30-27. Fourteen seconds remain.

Tennessee Valley takes over at their own goal line and marches 24 yards on two quick passes from Josh Kellett to James. With just three seconds remaining, Vipers kicker Sean Sullivan trots out onto the turf. Having just been assigned to the team and playing in his first ever arena football game, Sullivan calmly steps up and drills a 40-yard field goal to send the league's most vitriolic rivalry into its first-ever overtime.

As the captains lined up for the coin flip, which the Vipers called and won, fans had a moment to reflect on the "Miracle Minute," within which 17 points were scored and the lead changed hands four times.

Birmingham beings the overtime period on offense at midfield after Detronn Harris' 25-yard kickoff return. On the drive's first play, Aaron again feels pressure and steps up into the pocket. A split-second before making the decision to give up on the play and run for whatever yardage he could manage, he spots WR/DB Brian Haugabrook all alone near the Vipers' 15-yard line. Aaron floats a pass into Haugabrook's gloves. The former Florida Gator then slips down the sideline virtually untouched and bounds into the endzone, putting Birmingham back on top by six at 36-30.

However, Gallego pulls the point-after attempt wide, setting up the Vipers to sneak into the endzone and make the rookie Sullivan a legend in the Rocket City with a successful extra point.

Valley takes over at their own 7-yard line after a 26-yard kickoff return by Jerrian James is erased by a holding call. Kellett completes a pass to James for 12 yards to the Vipers' 19. First down.

Kellett faces intense pressure from the Steeldogs defensive line on the ensuing play and tosses the ball into the stands. Vipers' fans retroactively wish he would do the same on the next play.

On second down, Kellett floats a long ball in James' general direction, but he is trapped in double coverage. Steeldogs WR/DB Demontray Carter locks onto the errant ball and picks it off, insuring the team's seventh straight victory, and, more importantly the first-ever win over Tennessee Valley in Birmingham.

The game is generally regarded to this day as the greatest in the history of the Birmingham Steeldogs. Despite seven turnovers, including three lost fumbles on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter, Birmingham still bested its hated rival and successfully defended its home turf after years of disappointment. A picutre of the scoreboard proclaiming the final score still hangs in the team's front office, a reminder of the special rivalry that exists between these two proud in-state teams. It's a tribute to the af2's own "Miracle Minute" and to the greatest Steeldogs game ever played.