Twitter Gold: Duke’s Best Trick Play In 5.6 Decades

In the annals of Duke Football, there is one play that stands alone, famous above all others.

It took place in 1969, in the third quarter against UNC. Duke quarterback Leo Hart pretended to tie his shoelace during a timeout and Marcel Courtillet tossed the ball to Wes Chesson, who took off for the end zone, later saying it was the easiest touchdown he ever scored. It helped Duke, just 2-6-1, win the game 17-13.

This was just four months and two days after Neal Armstrong touched down on the moon and people still marvel about the play.

We don’t know if the fake field goal in Saturday’s game will be remembered quite the same way, but it was a heck of a play.

And it was gutty as hell.

Down 25-24 on 4th & 3 with 2:28 to play against your most hated rival is not the time most coaches would call for a trick play. Well, that’s exactly what Duke’s staff ordered up as punter Kade Reynoldson tossed the ball to kicker Todd Pelino, who took off to the left and ran 26 yards, getting the ball to the one-yard line. Duke ended up getting a touchdown instead of a field goal. If you haven’t seen it, you really should take a look.

And following that, UNC picked up three penalties in the last 2:18 of the game, suggesting that the trickery really got to them on some level.

Also notable: the fake field goal took place exactly 56 years after the shoestring play.

That’s right: the shoestring play took place on November 22nd, 1969. So by our calculations, you should expect to see something like that again in 2081.

Can’t wait!

By the way, if you don’t know or didn’t remember, hitting IC Meltdown on X.com is de rigueur after a Carolina Catastrophe. You won’t be disappointed.

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