Snowball Game
Encyclopedia
In American football
, the Snowball Game was the name given to the November 11, 1985 National Football League
(NFL) game between the San Francisco 49ers
and the Denver Broncos
. It was notable for a play in which spectators at Denver's Mile High Stadium
disrupted a 49ers field goal attempt by throwing snowball
s from the stands.
pass from John Elway
to Gene Lang. San Francisco failed to mount any offense on their first three possessions, gaining a total of only 27 yards. Quarterback Joe Montana
was sacked twice, for losses of 9 and 10 yards respectively. They were eventually able to answer with a Ray Wersching
field goal in the second quarter. Elway scored again with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Steve Watson
, and a second 49ers field goal attempt was disrupted by fans, leaving the Broncos up 14-3 at halftime.
The 49ers had more success in the third quarter, with a touchdown pass from Montana to Mike Wilson
, and a Wersching field goal. They took the lead in the fourth quarter with another field goal, but Rich Karlis
's 24-yard field goal with 1:27 left on the clock gave the Broncos a 17-16 victory.
received the snap from center, a snowball
thrown from the stands landed just in front of him. Distracted, he mishandled the football and was unable to hold it for placekicker
Ray Wersching
. In desperation he picked up the ball and attempted a pass, but there were no receivers downfield and it fell incomplete. No penalties were called and the Broncos took over on downs
. They went on to win the game by one point, making the failed field goal a pivotal factor.
The NFL had not yet instituted an instant replay system, so officials did not have an opportunity to review the play.
After the game, referee Jim Tunney
explained, "We have no recourse in terms of a foul or to call it on the home team or the fans. There's nothing in the rule book that allows us to do that." He ordered an increase in stadium security at halftime, and no further incidents occurred.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, the Snowball Game was the name given to the November 11, 1985 National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) game between the San Francisco 49ers
1985 San Francisco 49ers season
The 1985 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's 36th year with the National Football League. Roger Craig achieved the rare feat of having both 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season...
and the Denver Broncos
1985 Denver Broncos season
-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:* *...
. It was notable for a play in which spectators at Denver's Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...
disrupted a 49ers field goal attempt by throwing snowball
Snowball
A snowball is a spherical object made from snow, usually created by scooping snow with the hands, and compacting it into a roughly fist-sized ball. The snowball is often used to engage in games, such as snowball fights. Snowball fights are usually light-hearted and involve throwing snowballs at...
s from the stands.
Game summary
Denver scored first with a 3-yard touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass from John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
to Gene Lang. San Francisco failed to mount any offense on their first three possessions, gaining a total of only 27 yards. Quarterback Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
was sacked twice, for losses of 9 and 10 yards respectively. They were eventually able to answer with a Ray Wersching
Ray Wersching
Raimund "Ray" Wersching is an Austrian former placekicker in the National Football League . He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, stretching from 1973 through 1987.-NFL career:...
field goal in the second quarter. Elway scored again with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Steve Watson
Steve Watson (American football)
Steve Ross Watson is a former American football wide receiver and current wide receivers coach.After high school at St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Delaware, Watson attended Temple University and entered the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 1979...
, and a second 49ers field goal attempt was disrupted by fans, leaving the Broncos up 14-3 at halftime.
The 49ers had more success in the third quarter, with a touchdown pass from Montana to Mike Wilson
Mike Wilson (wide receiver)
Michael Ruben Wilson is a former professional American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1981 to 1990. He played football collegiately at Washington State University and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 9th round of the 1981 NFL Draft...
, and a Wersching field goal. They took the lead in the fourth quarter with another field goal, but Rich Karlis
Rich Karlis
Richard John Karlis is a former American Football placekicker who played nine seasons for the Denver Broncos, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Detroit Lions in the National Football League from 1982 to 1990...
's 24-yard field goal with 1:27 left on the clock gave the Broncos a 17-16 victory.
The snowball
On their last possession of the first half, the 49ers mounted a nine-play drive which ended in a 19-yard field goal attempt. As holder Matt CavanaughMatt Cavanaugh
Matthew Andrew Cavanaugh is a former American football quarterback in the NFL who played from 1978 to 1991. In the course of his career as a professional football player, he earned two Super Bowl rings...
received the snap from center, a snowball
Snowball
A snowball is a spherical object made from snow, usually created by scooping snow with the hands, and compacting it into a roughly fist-sized ball. The snowball is often used to engage in games, such as snowball fights. Snowball fights are usually light-hearted and involve throwing snowballs at...
thrown from the stands landed just in front of him. Distracted, he mishandled the football and was unable to hold it for placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Ray Wersching
Ray Wersching
Raimund "Ray" Wersching is an Austrian former placekicker in the National Football League . He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, stretching from 1973 through 1987.-NFL career:...
. In desperation he picked up the ball and attempted a pass, but there were no receivers downfield and it fell incomplete. No penalties were called and the Broncos took over on downs
Turnover on downs
In American football, a turnover on downs occurs when a team fails to convert a fourth down into a first down by gaining the required yardage.A team has four chances to gain ten yards or to score. Any ground gained during one down short of these ten yards is kept for the next chance...
. They went on to win the game by one point, making the failed field goal a pivotal factor.
The NFL had not yet instituted an instant replay system, so officials did not have an opportunity to review the play.
After the game, referee Jim Tunney
Jim Tunney
Jim Tunney was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.Jim Tunney was born in Dublin in 1923. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1969 general election as a Teachta Dála for Dublin North West...
explained, "We have no recourse in terms of a foul or to call it on the home team or the fans. There's nothing in the rule book that allows us to do that." He ordered an increase in stadium security at halftime, and no further incidents occurred.
Scoring summary
- DEN - Lang 3 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
- SF - FG Wersching 26
- DEN - Watson 6 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
- SF - Wilson 13 yard pass from Montana (Wersching kick)
- SF - FG Wersching 22
- SF - FG Wersching 45
- DEN - FG Karlis 24
Officials
- Referee: Jim TunneyJim Tunney (American football official)Dr. Jim Tunney was an American football official in the National Football League from 1960 to 1991. In his 31 years as an NFL official, Jim Tunney received a record 29 post-season assignments, including ten Championship games and Super Bowls VI, XI, and XII and named as an alternate in Super Bowl...
- Umpire: Tommy HensleyTommy HensleyThomas B. "Tommy" Hensley was an American football official in the National Football League from 1967 to 1987. During his time in the NFL, he was selected as the umpire for Super Bowl XIX in 1985...
- Head Linesman: Sid Semon
- Line Judge: Boyce Smith
- Field Judge: Ron Spitler
- Side Judge: Bill Quindy
- Back Judge: Jim Kearney