The annual Hall of Fame game in Canton is usually more about honoring the new inductees than watching the actual game since the starters rarely play.
But Caroline’s 33-30 victory over Arizona last Friday night turned out to be an exciting game featuring two third-string quarterbacks that was decided on the final play.
Undrafted rookie Haynes King scrambled five yards for the game-winning touchdown. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Fourth-string quarterback Kedon Slovis threw a one-yard TD pass to Bryson Green with 1:55 left to put Arizona ahead, then King led the game-winning drive.
King said it was a “dream come true” to play in front of so many Hall of Famers. King replaced backup Kenny Pickett in the second quarter and played the rest of the game.
Carson Beck, the Cardinals’ third-round pick, started and completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. He’s behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew on the depth chart, while King is behind Bryce Young and Pickett with the Panthers.
Nobody knows what the future holds for Beck and King. Beck as a third rounder is likely to have a brighter future, while the future for King is uncertain because he wasn’t drafted. But for one night on the Hall of Fame stage, both quarterbacks made the most of their opportunities.
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