TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– No degree of difficulty comes with getting JK Scott’s attention. One can either compliment his dance moves or rob him of something that he deserves. The Ray Guy Award Foundation chose the latter, leaving nothing but frustration for head coach Chris Petersen and the Washington Huskies.
After not being respected as one of the nation’s top specialists, Scott emerged a standout player in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Despite scoring the first touchdown of the game, Huskies’ quarterback Jake Browning was forced to maneuver his offense through horrid field position. He entered the contest averaging 48 yards a punt and against Washington, the golden leg from Denver, Colo., was at it again.
Though two of his eight kicks were returned, Scott dropped three punts inside the Huskies’ 10-yard line.
His fourth try, which placed Washington at its four-yard mark, ended in a 26-yard touchdown off an interception from Ryan Anderson. For an offense that averaged 44.5 points and 477.2 yards a game, the Huskies’ starting field position was its own 20-yard line. Scott’s excellence in directing his kicks allowed Alabama’s defense to set up and shut down one of the more explosive teams in college football.
His average of 45.9 yards a punt aided the Tide to a 24-7 win in its College Football Playoff semifinal. Scott now looks to disrupt the timing of Clemson’s offense next week in the national championship game.
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.
