Dolphins Win, 41-38, on Reveiz’s Late Kick

Rookie Fuad Reveiz is proving Don Shula’s decision to keep him over Uwe von Schamann was the right one.

Reveiz kicked a 43-yard field goal with six seconds left Sunday, lifting the Miami Dolphins to a 41-38 victory over the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I was a little apprehensive, but I was preparing myself on the sideline to go at it like any other kick,” Reveiz said.

“Don Strock’s hold and Jeff Toew’s snap were perfect just like they’ve been all year,” he said. “We may see something in the films, but from where I was, it went real smooth.”

After Von Schamann hit only 9 of 19 field goals last year, the Dolphins tabbed Reveiz in the seventh round out of Tennessee. Reveiz has connected on 13 of 15 field goals and all 21 of his extra points.

Reveiz got his shot when the Dolphins blew a 38-21 lead in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay’s Donald Igwebuike tied the score with a 38-yard field goal with 43 seconds left.

After Igwebuike’s field goal, the Dolphins drove 45 yards in four plays to Tampa Bay’s 25. Dan Marino completed passes of 13 yards to Duriel Harris and 19 and 15 yards to Tony Nathan to set the stage for Reveiz’s winning kick.

“When you win one like that, you’ve got to be thankful and we are,” Shula said. “I understand the Jets lost today (20-13 to New England), so somehow, some way, we’re tied for first.”

The Jets beat Miami last Monday night. Both are now 5-2 and tied for first place in the AFC East.

For Tampa Bay quarterback Steve DeBerg, who threw four touchdown passes to tight end Jimmie Giles, the loss was an all-too-familiar scene.

“Almost is a word I’m getting tired of,” he said.

DeBerg completed 19 of 32 for 365 yards with 4 touchdowns and an interception. Marino was 27 of 39 for 302 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception.

Miami went ahead, 38-21, when Marino threw a three-yard pass to Bruce Hardy with 2:46 left in the third quarter. But the Buccaneers, aided by Miami miscues, rallied for 17 straight points to tie the Dolphins. Besides Igwebuike’s field goal, the Tampa Bay scores in the fourth quarter came on passes of seven and 16 yards from DeBerg to Giles, the latter with 7:32 left.