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A local kid became a local hero in one play. All Hubbard had to do was run 98 yards without getting caught.
“Just go to the end zone,” said Hubbard after the Bengals beat the Ravens 24-17 to advance to the AFC Division Round. “I know these playoff games are never beautiful. Just make it.”
Hubbard has done it. Fifteen seconds after him from the snap, Hubbard was in the end his zone with his six scores and a play that will forever be remembered.
The defensive end of the Cincinnati Bengals played high school ball at Archbishop Mueller in Cincinnati. He advanced to Ohio State and was selected by the Bengals in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. For someone who has played for Ohio State all his life, he now lives up to his name.
He wouldn’t be in that position without his teammate Logan Wilson. He stole the ball from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley on the opposite goal line in a game tied at 17 in the fourth quarter.
Hubbard’s first thanks must have come from Huntley serving the ball on a platter toward the goal line. According to NextGen Stats (and obvious chips inside the football) the ball was 0.6 yards from him from the end zone. Wilson met the ball there with both hands and released it from Huntley’s hands.
“I’ve been thinking about it all offseason,” Huntley said.
When the ball floated toward the ground, running back Gus Edwards failed to react in time to hook it. But the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Hubbard corralled with both his hands.
There was nothing but green grass in front of him. The race has started.
On the sidelines, Joe Burrow thought:
“Go! Run faster!” the Bengals quarterback told NBC’s Melissa Stark. “Great success. We won with this.”
Hubbard had several advantages that worked for him. The Ravens in the jumbo goal line package did not have the fastest players on the field. Hubbard’s responsibility in the play was to contain the edge in haste, so he was untouched through the line.
His main antagonist turns out to be Mark Andrews. The Ravens tight end chased the ball out of the scrum. He passed Edwards and quickly got him within six yards of the ball. At that point, a Bengals defender was running alongside him and mostly guarding him.
“He is coming,” Hubbard thought to himself. “Someone please block him. Please don’t get caught.” That’s all I was thinking. ”
Andrews made a last-ditch effort, a dive, 30 yards from the end zone. he was empty. Hubbard kept running and didn’t stop until he saw his teammate’s smile on the sideline. He reached a top speed of 17.43 mph and Andrews chased the fastest speed of his career (20.72 mph).
Huntley was pleading that the ball crossed the plane. After the game, coach John Harbaugh said the plan was for Huntley to sneak low.
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During the course of Hubbard’s 98-yard glory, Cincinnati’s winning percentage increased from 46% to 88%, according to Next Gen Stats. It was the longest fumble return in postseason history. Hubbard moved 123.6 yards on this play. It is the longest distance ball in his career for a touchdown this season. The oxygen mask he was wearing was necessary.
After the game, Bengals communications staff revealed that Hubbard was wearing a microphone. Audio Clips of him, perhaps featuring heavy breathing, are well worth the wait.
For now, additions to the “Momentum Swing Hall of Fame” are good enough for Hubbard and the Bengals.
“You would never dream of that,” said Hubbard. “It’s pretty special.”
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
This article was originally published in USA TODAY: Sam Hubbard fumble return touchdown leads Bengals to wild card win
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