Xavier Gipson of the New York Jets had one of the most historic punt returns in team history on Monday Night Football. He became the first player in the NFL to return a punt for a touchdown in overtime since 2011 as the hometown team beat the Buffalo Bills 22-16 to open the season.
While a prep at
Wilson (Dallas), Gipson was a prolific returner for the Wildcats, returning six punt for touchdowns and three kickoff for scores during his three years on a the varsity between 2016 and 2018.
Despite Gipson's impressive prep resume he just misses making the list on the newest entries to the MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book.
The new section on punt and kickoff returns documents some incredible performances, including five punt return touchdowns in one game, 15 career punt return touchdowns and 13 kickoff return touchdowns in a career.
Brandon Wellington of Eastside Catholic is among the players included in the latest MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book entry highlighting punt and kickoff touchdown returns. Wellington makes the single-season and career list with eight kickoff return touchdowns. (Photo: Vince Miller)
One issue in determining punt and kickoff return records is these two categories often get confused, mixed together or simply lumped into the category of "kick returns." As a result, there are a number of record holders in state association record books, and the National Federation of High Schools record book, that are incorrectly listed.
One name no longer found among the kickoff return records is former American League home run champion Roger Maris. An all-around athlete at
Shanley (Fargo, N.D.), Maris was, at one time, credited with four kickoff return touchdowns in one game against Devils Lake in 1951.
For nearly two decades, Maris was recognized as the national record holder. Sports Illustrated ran a mention of Maris and his high school accomplishments in 1968 and again in 1983. The North Dakota High School Activities Association featured Maris in its Alumni Spotlight just two weeks ago and there it mentioned Maris's four kickoff returns for touchdowns performance.
The problem is that it never happened. Yes, Maris did have four "returns" for touchdowns against Devils Lake, but as Doug Huff of Student Sports pointed out in 2002, they consisted of two kickoff returns, a punt return and an interception return. Certainly a noteworthy performance, but not a national record.
So the record for kickoff returns for touchdowns in a game is no longer four by Maris, but instead three by a large number of players.
Mixing up punt returns and kick returns has resulted in other return records being misreported. Jack Golson, listed by MaxPreps with the single game punt return record of five in one game, is actually recorded by the National Federation of High Schools record book as having scored six touchdowns on punt returns in one game.
However, research determined that Golson's sixth touchdown was actually a kickoff return and not another punt return. Unlike Maris, however, Golson at least still holds the national record for single-game punt return touchdowns.
The career punt return touchdown record belongs to, perhaps, the most successful high school football player that few have ever heard of. While Michael Boyle's career is certainly well known in his home state of New Hampshire, he is largely unknown outside of New England.
But Boyle put together an incredible career at
Plymouth (N.H.). As a four-year starter, Boyle went 44-0 with four state championships with the Bobcats. He also made a habit of returning punts for touchdowns, racking up 15 in his career. He went on to a solid career as a receiver at University of New Hampshire and now coaches baseball at Plymouth.
Jack Kline of
B-G-M (Brooklyn, Iowa) holds the make for most punt return touchdowns in a season with nine. Kline had an incredible senior year as he ran 230 times for 1,811 yards and 32 touchdowns; he completed one pass, which was good for a touchdown; caught 22 passes for 397 yards and five touchdowns; recovered two fumbles, returning one for a touchdown; intercepted five passes and returned one for a touchdown and had seven kickoff returns, taking back two for scores.
But the most impressive stat was his punt returns. He fielded 12 punts during the season and returned nine for scores with an average of 54.1 yards per return.
