This was published 10 years ago
Gridiron player 'falcons' umpire to kick goal
Quinn Jones
A US high school gridiron kicker has the referee's head to thank for deflecting his dreadful kick through the uprights.
The official, positioned just in front of the crossbar, copped the ball flush on the side of his melon to complete one of the funniest sporting 'falcons' ever seen.
Texas-based Midland Lee student Luis Aranda was lining up an extra point in the second quarter against rivals El Paso El Dorado when he blasted the ball well below the target.
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Miraculously for Aranda, the ball was low enough to slam directly into the umpire's head.
The ball knocked off the official's hat before slamming into the meat of the crossbar and flicking through the posts.
The fortuitous incident helped Midland Lee claim a 35-16 victory.
