The play of the year in Arizona sports didn’t happen by professional sports team. Sure, the Cardinals made the playoffs, but there wasn’t one play that summed up the year in sports. We have to split the award for 2014 between Arizona and Arizona State. They both had a “Hail Mary” that would lead them both to successful seasons.
JAIL MARY
The final play of the Sun Devils game at USC would end up going down in the annuls as “Jail Mary”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmydnz2fi8k
Jaelan Strong knifing through the defense of the Trojans for a 49-yard touchdown catch that would keep ASU in position for a postseason spot in the College Football Playoff(they’d later let it slip away at Oregon State).
HILL MARY
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon’s 47-yard Hail Mary pass to Austin Hill against California, gave Arizona at 49-45 comeback win to open Pac-12 Conference play. That moment was the springboard for Rich Rodriguez’s team putting together a season that will finish with a Fiesta Bowl birth.
Honorable Mention
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer 13 yard TD pass to John Brown with 2:25 to go in the season opener against San Diego. The Monday night victory against a quality team would get the Cardinal season started on a positive note.
Brown and Palmer would thrill fans late in the Philadelphia game too. The 75 yard pitch and catch would go down as a play that pushed many over the edge onto the Cardinals bandwagon for the rest of the season.
I don’t see any play for the Diamondbacks worthy of putting on this list. When you have the worst record in baseball, nothing more to discuss. Same goes for the Coyotes and Suns. Make the playoffs and you make the list.
Brad Cesmat
