2 Minute Stop The Clock Play

HITCH PASS

THE HITCH PASS IS USED PRIMARILY IN TWO SITUATIONS: (1) WHEN THE SECONDARY IS PLAYING "OFF" THE WIDE RECEIVER AND (2) THIS IS OUR "STOP THE CLOCK" PLAY FOR OUR 2 MINUTE OFFENSE.

THE HITCH PASS IS A QUICK PASS. THE QB GETS THE BALL, TAKES ONE POSITION STEP, AND DELIVERS THE BALL TO THE WIDE OUT. THIS PASS MUST BE COMPLETED BEHIND THE LOS TO ENABLE THE BLOCKERS TO DELIVER THEIR BLOCKS ASAP. WHEN THE BALL IS COMPLETED BEHIND THE LOS, THERE IS NO OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE.
THE WIDE RECEIVER TAKES A STEP WITH HIS OUTSIDE FOOT TO PLANT, TURNS AND STEPS BACK TO RECEIVE THE BALL FROM THE QB.

THE JOB OF THE SECOND RECEIVER IS TO BLOCK THE WIDEST SECONDARY DEFENDER. THE EXACT BLOCK USED DEPENDS ON HOW THAT DEFENDER PLAYS HIS POSITION.

THE THIRD RECEIVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEALING THE SECOND SECONDARY DEFENDER. THE FB IS TO IMMEDIATELY DRIVE THROUGH THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE DE.

THE 2 MINUTE SITUATION

EVERY OFFENSIVE DAY, WE PRACTICE OUR 2 MINUTE OFFENSE. THE SE HITCH PLAY IS USED TO "STOP THE CLOCK." AT THE END OF ANY PLAY WHERE THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO RUN (OR WILL START WHENEVER THE CHAINS ARE SET FOLLOWING A FIRST DOWN) THE TEAM WILL LINE UP ON THE BALL WITHOUT A HUDDLE AND THE QB ON THE SNAP IMMEDIATELY DELIVERS THE BALL TO THE SE WHO IS POSITIONED 1 YARD IN FROM THE SIDELINE.

IF THE PASS CAN BE COMPLETED, THE SE WILL CATCH THE BALL, MOVE UP THE SIDELINE, AND WHEN FIRST THREATENED, HE WILL STEP OUT OF BOUNDS TO STOP THE CLOCK.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAY IS TO STOP THE CLOCK, FIRST, LAST, AND ABOVE ALL OTHER THINGS!

IF THE SE IS AT ALL COVERED AT THE SNAP, THE QB IS TO THROW THE BALL HIGH OVER THE SE'S HEAD OUT-OF-BOUNDS TO STOP THE CLOCK.

THE TEAM WILL THEN RE-HUDDLE TO GET THE NEXT PLAY FROM THE SIDELINES.
POSITIONING IS IMPORTANT ON THIS PLAY. IDEALLY WITH A RIGHT HANDED QB WE WOULD BE ON THE RIGHT HASH FOR ALIGNMENT. IT IS THE JOB OF THE QB AS THE PREVIOUS PLAY ENDS, TO DETERMINE THE ALIGNMENT FOR THE "STOP THE CLOCK PLAY." FOR RIGHT HANDED QBS ANY PLAY THAT ENDS NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD OVER TO THE RIGHT HASH, THE QB WILL SHOUT, "RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT!" THE TEAM WILL LINE-UP IN A DOUBLE SLOT RIGHT FORMATION AND RUN THE PLAY. IF THE END OF THE PLAY IS NEAR THE LEFT HASH, THE QB WILL SHOUT, "LEFT,LEFT, LEFT!" FOR DOUBLE SLOT LEFT ALIGNMENT. WE DO NOT WANT THE BALL IN THE AIR FOR TOO LONG ON THIS PLAY. EVERY SECOND COUNTS. TO THROW THE BALL FROM THE LEFT HASH TO THE RIGHT SIDELINE IS TOO FAR AND TAKES TOO LONG.

This play has been very good to us, especially in the 2 minute drill. We have driven the ball down the field successfully with time running out on the clock because we have practiced the drill at the end of every offensive practice.

We put one minute on the clock, ball on the -30 yard line and we have one time out left as if we have just received a punt and are starting the last drive of the game to win.

Whenever the clock stops after a play, we will huddle and send the play in from the sidelines as we normally do. If the clock is running, or if the clock is about to start because we just made a first down, we employ this hitch play to gain some yards and then the R'er is to get out of bounds and stop the clock.

REMEMBER: THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAY DURING THE 2 MINUTE DRILL IS TO STOP THE CLOCK.

Always tell the QB that it is better to throw the ball away than to take a sack which keeps the clock running. Throwing the ball away means we have not lost any ground, and we can huddle up, collect toughts and complete the next pass called.