North Carolina’s Ryan Switzer ties NCAA punt return touchdown record in Belk Bowl blowout of Cincinnati
North Carolina took two kicks to the house, including a record-tying punt return for Ryan Switzer in the Tar Heels' 39-17 win over Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl on Saturday.
Switzer, a freshman, returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, his fifth punt return touchdown of the season. That ties the NCAA record for punt return touchdowns in a season, which was held solely by Chad Owens of Hawaii. Owens did it in 2004.
And since Switzer is just a freshman, he's now in prime position to break the career record for punt return touchdowns in FBS. That record of eight is held by the Denver Broncos' Wes Welker, who did it at Texas Tech and Antonio Perkins at Oklahoma.
Near the end of the second quarter, T.J. Logan returned a free kick 78 yards for a touchdown and a 16-0 lead for the Tar Heels. UNC was getting the ball back after sacking Cincinnati quarterback Brandon Kay in the end zone for a safety.
The win put North Carolina's season mark at 7-6, while Cincinnati finishes the season at 9-4.
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