CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO -- The first two weeks of the 2010 CFL season have been filled with a number of outstanding touchdown returns from kickoffs, punts and missed field goals.

The feverish pace of spectacular plays has struck fear in the hearts of kickers and special teams coaches across the league. To honour these exceptional early season efforts, CFL.ca presents Kick Returners, By the Numbers:

915 – total combined kick return yardage by the Ticats’ Marcus Thigpen and the Argos’ Chad Owens through Week 2

636 – total combined yardage of six kick return touchdowns in 2010

552 – total missed field goal return yards on seven overall attempts in 2010 (three returned for TDs)

485 – total kick return yards by Thigpen alone in first two games of 2010
    (202 kickoffs, 128 punts, 155 missed field goals)

430 – total kick return yards by Owens alone in first two games of 2010
    (145 kickoffs, 168 punts, 117 missed field goals)

125 – length in yards of missed field goal return for TD by Als Tim Maypray, July 1/10 @ SSK * longest play of 2010 thus far

106 – average yards per kick return touchdown in 2010

78.9 – average yards per missed field goal return in 2010

32.9 – percentage of overall kick return yards in 2010 by Thigpen and Owens (915/2780)

31 – CFL record for most kick return TDs, career * Henry 'Gizmo' Williams

6 – kick return touchdowns in first six games of 2010 CFL season (three missed field goals, two punts, one kickoff)
    * CFL record is 24, set in 1995 with a 117-game schedule (13 teams that year)
    * prorated to present day 72-game schedule, record would be approximately 15

5 – games out of eight featuring at least one kick return touchdown in Weeks 1 & 2

5 – CFL record for most kick return TDs, one season
    * Henry 'Gizmo' Williams (1987 & 1991) and Bashir Levingston (2003 & 2004)

4 – number of kick returns over 100 yards through Week 2 (only Stamps Deon Murphy did not score a touchdown on his 105-yard missed field goal return, July 10/10 @ HAM)

3 – kick return TDs by Ticats Thigpen in first two games of 2010
    (one kickoff, one punt, one missed field goal)

2 – kick return TDs by Argos Owens in first two games of 2010
    (one punt, one missed field goal)

1 – multiple kick return TD game in 2010’s first two weeks (Ticats Thigpen, July 2/10 @ WPG; 93-yard kickoff return TD and 118-yard missed field goal return TD)

*Note that all stats are up to date through Sunday, July 11, 2010