Washington Football Dante Pettis ties NCAA punt return record early
By Bret Stuter
Washington Football WR Dante Pettis ties NCAA record today . His seventh punt return for a touchdown is his third this season in three games.
Washington Football team‘s wide receiver Dante Pettis is not the fastest, tallest, strongest, nor most elusive. But he may be one of the smartest men when the ball is in his hands that the NCAA has seen in some time. He is the type of player who seems, at times, to do it all. Take today’s game against Fresno State. In just the first half, he’s responsible for three touchdowns.
With 9:08 remaining in the 1st half, Dante Pettis has 101 all-purpose yards, three TD's, and a pass completion for 36 yards. pic.twitter.com/K0jvm2YODY
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 17, 2017
But the big question is,has he managed any punt returns for a touchdown?
Let’s talk punt returns for touchdowns
Well, the score is 34-7 as the first half winds down. And Pettis has accounted for three scores. He caught two passes for touchdowns. But the highlight of the game, and likely for the NCAA so far this season, is the record tying touchdown on a punt return with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Every time Bob Rondeau calls a Dante Pettis punt return TD for @UW_Football - an angel gets its wings.
— LEARFIELD Audio (@LEARFIELDAudio) September 17, 2017
LISTEN: https://t.co/5xvQqVceMw
Tying NCAA records is huge news.
Social media erupts!
That’s an NCAA record tying run folks.
And that’s so so good, it’s worth an encore.
DANTE PETTIS DOES IT AGAIN
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) September 17, 2017
He ties the all-time NCAA record for punt return TDs (8) https://t.co/OYtIZGNCkT pic.twitter.com/XF72zLrRBg
Even former teammates chimed in. How about speedster John Ross III?:
Dawg this is sensational lol look at the blocks! https://t.co/Fhxq9YBvMc
— Rohn Joss (@WatchJRoss) September 17, 2017
Kevin King had something to say:
Dante Pettis = 🐐🐐 .. 🐱
— Kevin King (@King_kevvoo) September 17, 2017
If you are not watching this game, you are missing a record tying performane from Pettis. And the game is just half over.
Pettis talks about Fresno State
Pettis talked about Fresno State several days ago.
He’s certainly a scoring threat in so many ways. And as the pressure mounts this year to perform, he ups his game and delivers his best performance of the young season.
Next: How to catch Washington Football as Huskies host Fresno State Bulldogs
The first half performance certainly tempts the belief that the record is breakable, perhaps even in the second half of today’s contest. With a 34-7 scored, you have to wonder how long Coach Petersen will allow starters to play, particularly with a huge road contest at Colorado next week.
Dante Pettis has certainly done his part today. Now, if he can maintain his touchdown pace, the Huskies will be in the hunt for another Pac-12 Championship.