University of Maine football brilliantly trolls Colts with correctly-executed version of that fake-punt play

By Nik DeCosta-Klipa @NikDeCostaKlipa

October 19, 2015

1 minute to read

If the Indianapolis Colts needed a lesson (they do) on how to correctly execute Sunday night’s inexplicable, failed fake-punt attempt, the University of Maine football team offered a free one via their Twitter account Monday morning.

[fragment number=0]

[fragment number=1]

The Black Bears used the bizarre formation on an overtime fake extra point against James Madison University in 2011. After JMU went up 24-17 on their first overtime possession, Maine answered back with a touchdown of their own and sent on the PAT team. But then they shifted into that offset formation the Colts tried against the Patriots.

Maine’s backup quarterback Chris Treister explained to the Bangor Daily News how the play worked:

For the conversion, the Bears lined up in a formation that had snapper [Justin] Perillo and Treister, in the “shotgun,’’ alone in the middle of the field, kicker Brian Harvey and Troy Eastman wide right and the other seven players bunched up on the left side.

“I have the option to shift (the players) and just kick it, to have it snapped over to Pushaun (Brown) and run ‘outside zone,’ or I could run a sprintout to the right and have a run-pass option,’’ Treister explained. “I chose the latter and had to win the game on that one.’’

The play ended with Treister diving into the end zone over two defenders.

The Colts used the formation Sunday night in their 34-27 loss to the Patriots. The primary intent, according to coach Chuck Pagano, was to catch the New England defense with too many players on the field, with the option to run a play if they got “a certain look.’’

They did not get that look.

[fragment number=2]

[fragment number=3]

Back in 2011, Maine made SportsCenter for correctly running the trick play. We will certainly continue to see the Colts’ attempt on ESPN too, albeit for different reasons.