SECTION HIgH SCHOOlS ▶ baSkETball ▶ A look at the top performers UAlbany men trek to New and performances of the Hampshire in quest for B SPORTS past week in Section II./b2 needed conference win./b3 Times Union ∙ Timesunion.com ∙ Monday, February 6, 2017 LI Patriots OT Fa lcons 34 28 Simply the greatest

Charlie Riedel / Patriots running back James White scores the winning during of Super Bowl LI against the Falcons. He finished with two and a two-point conversion. Brady adds Pats win 5th title to legendary in an OT thriller career with Brady rallies N.E. Bowl history, scoring the last 31 points to escape with a 34- from 25-point deficit 28 overtime victory — their epic rally second Super Bowl victory at to stun Falcons NRG Stadium. Pats leads By John McClain The Falcons, 0-2 in Super Chronicle Bowls, had plenty of oppor- to win MVP tunities to secure the victory, By Aaron Wilson Houston but they made just enough The mistakes to allow the Patriots have produced so many magi- to stay close. Houston cal moments in Super Bowls The Patriots forced wouldn’t be that we have come to expect overtime on their last drive denied, a man determined to them. of regulation when running deliver a masterful performance No matter B5 ▶ Review back James White scored on a for the ages as he manufactured how many of the TV 1-yard run, and Brady threw a the most dramatic and biggest more cham- broadcast; a two-point conversion pass to comeback victory in Super Bowl pionships Bill look at how . history. Belichick and the local The tie was made possible Calmly rifling precise spirals Tom Brady players fared. by a spectacular catch — one and maintaining his poise and win, it’s un- of the greatest in Super Bowl accuracy despite being under likely they’ll history — by heavy duress from the have another like Super Bowl at Atlanta’s 41 for a 23-yard Falcons’ pass rushers, the leg- LI on Sunday at NRG Sta- gain. endary New England Patriots dium. The ball was tipped, and quarterback engineered an im- Bob Levey / Getty Images Down 28-3 to Atlanta with Edelman had to dive for it. He probable 34-28 overtime victory To m Brady (12) of the New England Patriots reacts after 8:31 left in the third quarter, caught it off the leg and foot in Super Bowl LI on Sunday night defeating the 34-28 in overtime during Super the Patriots authored the of cornerback Robert Alford. Please see Brady B5 ▶ Bowl LI at NRG Stadium on Sunday in Houston. biggest comeback in Super Please see Super B5 ▶ four quarters, two teams, one overtime Atl. 21, N.E. 3 N.E. 28, Atl. 28 Atlanta’s Robert Alford’s 82- The Patriots wipe out a 28-3 yard return for a deficit to force the first OT in touchdown puts the Falcons up Super Bowl history. Tom Brady 21-0 over the Patriots with 2:21 threw a tying 2-point conver- left in the first half. sion pass to Danny Amendola with 57 seconds remaining.

Patrick Smith / Getty Images Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images N.E. 0, Atl. 0 Atl. 28, N.E. 9 N.E. 34, Atl. 28 A scoreless first quarter in the Matt Ryan hits James White scores the win- Super Bowl is nothing new and the Falcons’ running back ning touchdown on a 2-yard for Tom Brady, who never led beats run. No team had ever come his team to a point in the first for a TD. The score caps an 85- back from more than 10 points quarter of his previous six yard drive and gives Atlanta a to win the Super Bowl — the Pa- Super Bowls. To m Pennington / Getty Images 28-3 lead. Charlie Riedel / Associated Press triots erased a 25-point deficit.