TUSCALOOSA—Not being a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award (nation’s top punter), set up Chattanooga to have a rough day moving the ball against one of the nation’s best marksmen, Alabama’s JK Scott.
Scott, a junior, excelled in creating difficult field position for the Mocs.
The 6-foot-6, 202-pound specialist averaged 48.8 yards on six punts, while dropping four inside the 20-yard line. He and the Crimson Tide’s punt coverage jump started the team’s offense in the second quarter, after linebacker Keaton Anderson recovered a fumbled punt inside Chattanooga’s 9-yard line.
Jalen Hurts cashed in on the opportunity, finding Gehrig Dieter for a one-yard touchdown.
Scott totaled two punts in excess of 50 yards (long of 56 yards), and had three attempts returned for an average of 4.5 yards. Despite getting into Alabama’s territory twice and striking first with a field goal, Chattanooga’s average field position was its own 22-yard line in a 31-3 losing effort.
Scott has punted the ball 44 times this season, netting an average of 48.5 yards.
He’s dropped 17 balls inside the opponents’ 20, and had 17 more attempts to not even be returned. The Denver, Colo., native has accounted for 23 boots in excess of 50 yards, including a long of 66 yards.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
