College football

Returner gets back in groove

Leon Washington's record day includes taking a punt back 65 yards for a touchdown.

By ZACHARY SPAIN
Published October 26, 2003

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TALLAHASSEE - While FSU's 48-24 victory against Wake Forest on Saturday might be remembered more for Bobby Bowden's coaching milestone, a record set by Leon Washington helped get him there.

The sophomore tailback's 159 punt return yards, including 65 on a touchdown that put FSU up 17-7, eclipsed Bobby Jackson's school record of 137 set in 1974.

"It is great to be mentioned with all the great returners in Florida State history like Deion (Sanders)," Washington said.

The output wasn't totally unexpected. He returned a kickoff 97 yards against Clemson last season. But given the adversity Washington has faced this season, it took him longer that expected.

Washington dislocated his right elbow in the season opener at North Carolina. After missing four games, he wasn't part of the punt team Oct. 11 against Miami. Last weekend against Virginia, he muffed his only punt.

Before Saturday, Washington had minus-1 yard on two returns.

"It is good to have him back out there," Bowden said. "He might be the most dangerous player we have."

Along with his blockers, Washington said Wake Forest punter Ryan Plackemeier, who averaged 48.3 yards on 10 punts, made it easy.

"He outkicked the coverage a lot, and we knew that going into the game," Washington said. "Basically, I got the ball and just ran straight ahead. I didn't have to make many guys miss."

Washington's touchdown, FSU's first on a punt return since Peter Warrick's 59-yarder in the 2000 Sugar Bowl, fit that description. He caught the punt at FSU's 35 and ran it up the middle, scoring almost untouched. Thanks to defensive end Eric Moore's tip of the punt, which still sailed 38 yards, he got a running start.

"By the time I caught it, everyone had outrun me," he said. "I just got the ball and took it straight up the field."

Also by that time, Washington had forgotten about his elbow and last weekend. All he thought about was the welcome he would get on the sideline if he didn't take the ball in the air.

"I knew if I didn't run up and catch it real quick," he said, "(special-teams coach Mickey Andrews) would kill me."

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