The Denver Broncos' win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night was most visibly a triumph of old over young. Propelled by Denver's phenomenal defense, 39-year-old Peyton Manning guided Denver to a 24-10 Super Bowl win over Carolina, led by ascendent superstar Cam Newton.
But it was two unheralded Bay Area natives who combined to seal the deal in a dramatic sequence of fourth quarter heroics for Denver.
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Denver essentially put the game away with three minutes left, when Vonn Miller forced a Cam Newton fumble with the Panthers backed up against their own end zone. Safety T.J. Ward then swooped in to corral the ball for Denver. After the Broncos took over on offense, running back C.J. Anderson punched it in from two yards out.
Following an ensuing two-point conversion, it was 24-10 with 3:08 to play -- and Denver never looked back.
Also worth noting: You could drive from Anderson's hometown of Vallejo, stop by the legendary prep powerhouse where Ward went to high school and get to Levi's Stadium, where the two combined to clinch Super Bowl 50 for Denver, in less than 90 minutes.
Calling themselves "Bay Boys," TJ Ward and CJ Anderson of the Broncos cap big seasons w super efforts
Ward went to DLS, Anderson to Bethel— Joe Davidson (@SacBee_JoeD) February 8, 2016
Anderson's entire career since high school has been defined by long odds. He grew up in the hardscrabble Country Club Crest neighborhood of Vallejo, then attended Oakland's Laney community college to shore up his grades. He put up good numbers but never even became a full-time starter at Cal, then went un-selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.
But Anderson managed to grind his way to an NFL career, capped by Sunday's Super Bowl 50 win. After the Broncos beat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship to earn a Super Bowl berth, Anderson posted a poignant message to Instagram detailing a post-game conversation between him and Pats star Tom Brady.
A photo posted by cjandersonrb9 (@cjandersonrb9) on Jan 26, 2016 at 11:57am PST
The caption read:
I know a lot of people hate this man but man when he was pick 199 and was over look he inspired me I was undrafted and over came all the odds so bless what he told me at the end of this game. He said "CJ way to fight and prove everybody wrong you belong in this league and your one hell of a player I love the way you run keep climbing to be great" those words meant so much growing up watching Tom overcame I'm proud to say I'm 3-2 vs his teams and proud to say I get to battle him every year. Thanks Tom for telling me those words they will stick and I know a lot of people don't like you but I have MAD RESPECT. Thanks I see you overcome as others in this league and now it's my turn.
Ward, meanwhile, took a more tradition path to success. A two-time NFL Pro Bowler, he played for a powerhouse high school program at De La Salle, located in suburban Concord, then a powerhouse college program at Oregon. He was taken in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
VIDEO: #Broncos safety and #DeLaSalle alum T.J. Ward excited to be back for #SB50: https://t.co/7djTb3nO1F #TJWard pic.twitter.com/YSlsgsyZny— ABC7 News (@abc7newsBayArea) February 8, 2016
Playing for elite high school and college teams might have hinted ever so slightly at NFL success for Ward, but nothing can predict making a game-clinching play in Super Bowl 50 in what's practically your hometown.
Even less fathomable is another game-clinching play being made moments later by a fellow Bay Area native. The screenshot below shows how one would drive from Anderson's hometown of Vallejo to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, stopping by Ward's alma mater of De La Salle along the way.
For Ward and Anderson alike, it was a Hollywood-worthy ending that Anderson captured well in this postgame tweet.
What a time to be alive— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) February 8, 2016
What a time, indeed.