HOUSTON – The play call came in, toss right, and New England Patriots running back James White suddenly had the chance to live out the dream of every kid on any football field over the past few decades.

White was about to become the first player in NFL history to score a game-winning touchdown on the final play in a Super Bowl.

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White took the toss, ran through a couple tackle attempts and barely got over the goal line for the first overtime Super Bowl touchdown ever, the game-winning score for the Patriots in an unbelievably dramatic Super Bowl LI.

“I feel like everything was in slow motion,” White said. “That’s what you dream about as a kid.”

It was a bit of good fortune for White that he was in the game for that chance. LeGarrette Blount is the team’s short-yardage back, but the Patriots decided to not substitute by the goal line. White and Dion Lewis split time, but on the final play of regulation Lewis suffered what coach Bill Belichick termed cramps in his hamstring. So White was in and his number was called.

White isn’t the biggest back, but it was an incredible effort. Receiver Julian Edelman went in motion and blocked down on cornerback Brian Poole. Right tackle Marcus Cannon pulled out in front of White and got just enough of linebacker Deion Jones to clear a lane. White was hit by safety Ricardo Allen at about the 3-yard line, but White kept driving forward. Cornerback Robert Alford got a piece of White just before the goal line, and then White lunged in.

“I saw a crease,” White said. “You have to try to make a play for your team. At the 3-yard line, 2-yard line, you have to find a way in.”

It wasn’t clear immediately if White had crossed the plane, but he knew he scored.

“Definitely,” White said with a laugh. “You saw me run away.”

White ran off in jubilation, only to be chased down and tackled by Blount. Only two NFL championship games have been decided on an overtime touchdown: the 1958 NFL championship game and Super Bowl LI. Alan Ameche scored the game-winner in 1958, White scored the game-winner on Sunday. Coincidentally, both played their college ball at the University of Wisconsin.

White came into the game as a relative unknown, though he has become a trusted part of the Patriots’ offense. As Patriots coach Bill Belichick pointed out in his postgame media conference, White was mostly inactive two seasons ago. He played just three games as a rookie. But he eventually earned more playing time, and was a big part of New England’s offensive plan in Super Bowl LI.

White caught 14 passes, a Super Bowl record. He had 110 receiving yards (most ever by a running back in Super Bowl history), 29 rushing yards, scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion. There was no question Tom Brady would win Super Bowl MVP after throwing for 466 yards, but White was clearly the runner-up.

“What can you say about James?” Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “He’s so dependable. He always comes up big in critical situations. We count on him so much in so many aspects of our offense.”

Not long after the game, White was talking about the Patriots’ amazing comeback, the championship and his contribution, and he was asked if he realized he was the first player in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with a touchdown on the final play. He paused and shook his head.

“I had no idea,” White said. “It’s an amazing feeling, man.”

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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