Football DBQFootball DBQ

Situation DescriptionSituation Description

• he annual Ely Tigers versus Dillard Panthers football he annual Ely Tigers versus Dillard Panthers football game was played Friday night. Due to family game was played Friday night. Due to family commitments I was unable to attend the game. The commitments I was unable to attend the game. The game was decided when Donnell Wilson caught a game was decided when Donnell Wilson caught a touchdown pass on the last play of the 4th quarter touchdown pass on the last play of the 4th quarter giving Ely a 14-10 victory. Monday morning when I giving Ely a 14-10 victory. Monday morning when I arrived at school "everyone" was talking about the arrived at school "everyone" was talking about the "catch" and the victory. What I want to know is what "catch" and the victory. What I want to know is what REALLY happened and just how great of a play this REALLY happened and just how great of a play this catch actually was. Throughout the day I spoke to the catch actually was. Throughout the day I spoke to the following people in an attempt to obtain the truth. As I following people in an attempt to obtain the truth. As I review each source I must constantly ask myself "what review each source I must constantly ask myself "what is the validity of each person's comment and what is is the validity of each person's comment and what is their particular expertise in the area of high school their particular expertise in the area of high school football.football.

Document 1Document 1

• Tom Robard, Newspaper Reporter, Tom Robard, Newspaper Reporter, The Fort The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 

• The annual Ely--Dillard football game ended The annual Ely--Dillard football game ended in dramatic fashion when Donnell Wilson in dramatic fashion when Donnell Wilson caught the game winning touchdown pass caught the game winning touchdown pass as time expired. Wilson made a leaping as time expired. Wilson made a leaping catch and landed safely in the endzone catch and landed safely in the endzone capping an improbable come from behind capping an improbable come from behind win for the Tigers.(note: most high school win for the Tigers.(note: most high school game results are phoned into the newspaper game results are phoned into the newspaper sports desk)sports desk)

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• Donnell Wilson, Ely Wide Receiver who Donnell Wilson, Ely Wide Receiver who caught the winning pass Did you see that caught the winning pass Did you see that catch?!catch?!

• I mean it was great! Man I knew I had it! I mean it was great! Man I knew I had it! That D-back was nothing! I ran right by That D-back was nothing! I ran right by him and just reached out and pulled it in. him and just reached out and pulled it in. Focus, real focus!! We're number 1!!Focus, real focus!! We're number 1!!

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•   Clayton Sheffield, Offensive Coach, Ely Clayton Sheffield, Offensive Coach, Ely High School High School 

• Great catch! Unbelievable! Donnell has Great catch! Unbelievable! Donnell has heart and no quit in him. When it heart and no quit in him. When it mattered I knew he would come through. mattered I knew he would come through. He's tough, a real gamer! I had the team He's tough, a real gamer! I had the team focused. We were ready to play. Never a focused. We were ready to play. Never a doubt!doubt!

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• Jasmine McNeil, Ely Cheerleader Captain Jasmine McNeil, Ely Cheerleader Captain 

• It was a totally awesome catch! We won the It was a totally awesome catch! We won the game and, like totally disgraced that other game and, like totally disgraced that other team. I knew we would win after our half-team. I knew we would win after our half-time show, and we did! We rock! Go Ely! time show, and we did! We rock! Go Ely! Those Dillard guys had no chance. And you Those Dillard guys had no chance. And you should have seen those Dillard girls! Their should have seen those Dillard girls! Their cheers were sloppy and screechy. No cheers were sloppy and screechy. No wonder we won!!! We're number 1!!wonder we won!!! We're number 1!!

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• Mary Griffin, Ely teacher who attended the Mary Griffin, Ely teacher who attended the game to watch her son playgame to watch her son play

•   Ely played real hard. The boys were Ely played real hard. The boys were great. It was a great catch that won a great. It was a great catch that won a hard fought game. The noise in the stands hard fought game. The noise in the stands after the game was unbelieveable. after the game was unbelieveable. Everyone was hugging each other and Everyone was hugging each other and screaming.screaming.

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• Demetrius Johnson, Defensive back who Demetrius Johnson, Defensive back who covered Donnell, Dillard High School covered Donnell, Dillard High School 

• We were robbed. That guy never caught We were robbed. That guy never caught the ball, he was lying there on the ground the ball, he was lying there on the ground and the ball fell in his hands. He pushed and the ball fell in his hands. He pushed me and the ref never saw nothing. Ely is me and the ref never saw nothing. Ely is nothing but a bunch of cheats!nothing but a bunch of cheats!

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• Mark Burton, Defensive Coach, Mark Burton, Defensive Coach, Dillard High School Dillard High School 

• What can I say? Demetrius played What can I say? Demetrius played him real tight. Ely ended up on the him real tight. Ely ended up on the ground with the ball and the ground with the ball and the touchdown. Some nights you just touchdown. Some nights you just aren't lucky, some you are.aren't lucky, some you are.

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• Owen Dyson, Football Referee, Owen Dyson, Football Referee, excerpt from his game report to the excerpt from his game report to the Florida High School Activities Florida High School Activities Association Association 

• It was a clean and simple catch It was a clean and simple catch resulting in a touchdown. No penalty resulting in a touchdown. No penalty was involved.was involved.

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• Robert Benson, Assistant Football Robert Benson, Assistant Football Coach, University of Nebraska. Coach, University of Nebraska. Excerpt from his scouting report. Excerpt from his scouting report. 

• #83 Donnell Wilson, Senior. Position: #83 Donnell Wilson, Senior. Position: Wide Receiver. Height: 5'6". Weight: Wide Receiver. Height: 5'6". Weight: 155. Comment: Has poor hands and 155. Comment: Has poor hands and only average speed.only average speed.

Missing or Additional Missing or Additional DocumentDocument

• What additional document could be What additional document could be added to clarify the situation?added to clarify the situation?