All the Buffalo Bulls had to do was punch it in on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The odds were in their favor.
They forgot the Ohio Bobcats defense is more commonly known as a brick wall. The sturdy structure upheld its reputation and forced a turnover on downs. Ohio quarterback Armani Rogers led the offense onto the field with barely an inch to breathe. His only job was to take care of the ball.
Instead, he took it all the way to the house and made college football history.
Longest Rushing TD By QB in NCAA History
Longest Rushing TD by a QB in NCAA History. No Big Deal????
? (ESPN+): https://t.co/DRuVHee5iH#OUohyeah pic.twitter.com/iFSujyS08n
— Ohio Football ? (@OhioFootball) October 16, 2021
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Rogers lined up in the shotgun up 7-0 halfway through the first quarter. He dropped back on a designed quarterback draw. Any positive yardage was welcomed.
Ohio's offensive line blocked like a fortress and gave Rogers an opening on the left. He scurried upfield and zoomed by two Bulls defenders who must've forgot their protractors at home.
Rogers waved goodbye to one last defender, thanks to great blocking from his wide receiver, on the way to the end zone. The 13-second, 99-yard run put the Bobcats up 14-0 and inked Rogers' name in the NCAA record books for the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback. The record was previously held by Arizona State's Mark Malone, who rushed for a 98-yard score against Utah State in 1979.
I've watched this play hundreds of times now. Rogers' strides may be the longest in all of college football. It makes sense. He's listed at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds and was famously known as Armani "Giannis Legs" Rogers as a recruit out of Hamilton High School in Los Angeles.
The electric run ended up being the highlight of the day for Ohio as Buffalo came back and won the game 27-26. The Bobcats would like to forget the result. Rogers' 99-yard touchdown run is worth remembering.
