A RULE TO WIN BY : East L.A. College Defense Turns Blocked Conversion Try Into 2 Points and 16-15 Victory

A new college football rule allowing the defensive team to score on an extra-point play enabled East Los Angeles College to defeat Victor Valley College last Saturday in the closing minutes of the game, 16-15.

With about 2 minutes left, Victor Valley appeared to have won the seesaw game at Victorville, scoring a touchdown for a 15-14 lead.

But then, Roy Amos of East L.A. burst through to block the kick for the extra point. Teammate Tom Gordon picked up the bouncing ball and, to the surprise of the 600 homecoming fans and perhaps even some of the officials, began to run the other way. He did not stop until he reached the Victor Valley end zone, 92 yards later.

A stunt by Gordon? Not at all.

According to East L.A. Coach Al Padilla, the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rule instituted this year provides that when an extra-point kick is blocked, a player from either team can pick it up and advance the ball--for 2 points if he reaches the opposite end zone.

“This may be a famous first in football for us,” Padilla said. “At least in California. I haven’t heard of any team out here capitalizing on the rule so far.”

Colorado School of Mines is believed to be the first school to take advantage of the rule, scoring its only points on Sept. 3 when Rod Beauchamp ran 87 yards after picking up an errant snap that sailed over the holder’s head. Hastings (Neb.) won the game, 36-2.

Under the old rule, only the offensive team could recover the ball and run it over for 2 points on a blocked conversion kick.

Padilla said that the game was held up for about 5 minutes while the legality of the play was questioned.

“But the referee and two of the other five officials appeared well aware of the new rule,” he said. “Luckily, no whistle was blown when Gordon ran the ball downfield.”

Padilla said he, his staff and players were also up on the new rule. “In fact, we have practiced going for a score in the event of a blocked PAT kick,” he said, adding that the block was no fluke. “We also blocked 3 Victor Valley field-goal attempts in the game.”