Robert Griffin III, Baylor University's 2011 Heisman Trophy winner

Leave it to Woodrow Wilson High School super-alum Kyle Rains to come up with a link between RG3 — Robert Griffin III, who won the Heisman Trophy this weekend to become Baylor University’s first such honoree — and the Woodrow Wildcat football team.

Sign up for our newsletter

* indicates required

Turns out, Rains says, Griffin’s Copperas Cove football team defeated Woodrow 21-14 in the 2006 state regional playoffs, despite the presence of future TCU All-America Greg McCoy as a Wildcat defensive back and offensive receiver (you can read our coverage of him here).

McCoy snagged one of Griffin’s errant passes in that game and also figured in the game-changing final offense play for Woodrow, when a Copperas Cove player stepped in front of McCoy in the end zone to intercept what appeared to be a sure touchdown with 26 seconds to go. Woodrow coach Bobby Estes argued that McCoy had been interfered with, but the referees disagreed and the game was over. Woodrow finished with an 11-1 record that year.

Griffin didn’t show much in that game — he was only 3-11 passing with the McCoy interception. But in a preview of his ability to dominate even when the passing game wasn’t clicking, he also tacked on 64 yards rushing on six attempts.

Another Woodrow link: Griffin won this year’s Davey O’Brien Award, signifying college football’s best quarterback. O’Brien, as all good Wildcats know, was one of two Woodrow winners of the Heisman; the other was Tim Brown, who starred at Notre Dame and later with NFL’s Oakland Raiders.