Continuing the series from last week, today we look back at the players who had the best special team performances of all time in the ISFL.
*Disclaimer: These are records as they originally stood; if they have been matched but not surpassed, those new players are not included in this list.
Returning
Most Kick Return Yards - Ryan Applehort - 338 yd - S15 W7
In their 38-28 loss to the Philadelphia Liberty, the Yellowknife Wraiths did not return a single punt. Quarterback turned cornerback Ryan Applehort returned 7 kicks for a record 338 yards, including a long return of 108 yards for a touchdown. The Wraiths finished that season 7-7 and did not make the playoffs. Applehort was a 3x Pro Bowler, and sits 8th all-time for annual pass completion percentage, 6th all-time for career pass completion percentage, 4th all-time for career passing completions, 8th all-time for career passing yards, and 10th all-time for career passing touchdowns. As a CB, he is 1st all-time for annual pass deflections, done in that same season. Additionally, he is 12th all-time for peak TPE.
Most Kick Return Touchdowns - Matt Smith - 1 TD - S1 W13
In their 24-17 loss to the Orange County Otters, the Baltimore Haws returned 5 kicks between two returners. Safety Matt Smith returned 4 kicks, and on one 90 yd return scored the ISFL's first kick return touchdown. This set the bar at 1 in a game, a number which has been met many, many times, but has yet to be surpassed. Smith had a quiet career, with this market being his only real claim to fame. The Hawks ended their season 4-10 that year, missing the playoffs.
Most Interception Return Yards - Jim Waters - 151 yd - S23 W12
In their Week 12 blowout, the Honolulu Hahalua put up 40 points to the Austin Copperheads' measly 3 (one field goal by Alfredo Crisco). A major contributor to the dominance by Honolulu was due to cornerback Jim Waters making 3 interceptions, returning the ball for a record 151 yards but no touchdowns. The Hahalua finished the season 7-9, missing the playoffs. Still active today, Waters is still making a name for himself as a corner.
Most Punt Return Yards - Dermot Lavelle - 214 yd - S7 W4
Most Punt Return Touchdowns - Dermot Lavelle - 2 TD - S7 W4
Most Total Return Touchdowns - Dermot Lavelle - 2 TD - S7 W4
Leave it to the best special teamer of all time to set 3 records in the same single game. In the Wraiths' narrow 23-21 victory over the New Orleans Second Line, Dermot Lavelle had the game of a lifetime. As the sole returner, Lavelle returned 4 kicks and 8 punts, for a record 214 yards and 2 touchdowns. This would also incidentally set the record for total return touchdowns. The Wraiths went 13-1 that season but were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual champions, the Philadelphia Liberty. They would, however, go on to win the Ultimus in the following season, Lavelle's only title. In his career he made 13 Pro Bowls (most all-time), was named ISFL Defensive Back of the Year as well as ISFL Defensive Player of the Year for S8, for S9 and S10 was named Returner of the Year, and was inducted into the ISFL Hall of Fame in the S16 class. In turn his number 40 jersey was retired by the Wraiths. Lavelle is #1 all time in the following categories: career kick return yards, career punt return yards, career kick return touchdowns, career punt return touchdowns, career pass deflections, career interceptions, career defensive touchdowns, and ISFL games played. He is also 2nd all-time for annual punt return yards, 6th all-time for annual kick return yards, and 9th all-time for both annual pass deflections and annual interceptions. Lavelle is also 15th for highest peak TPE.
Thank you to @TomHanks for maintaining this Wiki.
This Wiki Team Publication is brought to you by Cheech65.
*Disclaimer: These are records as they originally stood; if they have been matched but not surpassed, those new players are not included in this list.
Returning
Most Kick Return Yards - Ryan Applehort - 338 yd - S15 W7
In their 38-28 loss to the Philadelphia Liberty, the Yellowknife Wraiths did not return a single punt. Quarterback turned cornerback Ryan Applehort returned 7 kicks for a record 338 yards, including a long return of 108 yards for a touchdown. The Wraiths finished that season 7-7 and did not make the playoffs. Applehort was a 3x Pro Bowler, and sits 8th all-time for annual pass completion percentage, 6th all-time for career pass completion percentage, 4th all-time for career passing completions, 8th all-time for career passing yards, and 10th all-time for career passing touchdowns. As a CB, he is 1st all-time for annual pass deflections, done in that same season. Additionally, he is 12th all-time for peak TPE.
Most Kick Return Touchdowns - Matt Smith - 1 TD - S1 W13
In their 24-17 loss to the Orange County Otters, the Baltimore Haws returned 5 kicks between two returners. Safety Matt Smith returned 4 kicks, and on one 90 yd return scored the ISFL's first kick return touchdown. This set the bar at 1 in a game, a number which has been met many, many times, but has yet to be surpassed. Smith had a quiet career, with this market being his only real claim to fame. The Hawks ended their season 4-10 that year, missing the playoffs.
Most Interception Return Yards - Jim Waters - 151 yd - S23 W12
In their Week 12 blowout, the Honolulu Hahalua put up 40 points to the Austin Copperheads' measly 3 (one field goal by Alfredo Crisco). A major contributor to the dominance by Honolulu was due to cornerback Jim Waters making 3 interceptions, returning the ball for a record 151 yards but no touchdowns. The Hahalua finished the season 7-9, missing the playoffs. Still active today, Waters is still making a name for himself as a corner.
Most Punt Return Yards - Dermot Lavelle - 214 yd - S7 W4
Most Punt Return Touchdowns - Dermot Lavelle - 2 TD - S7 W4
Most Total Return Touchdowns - Dermot Lavelle - 2 TD - S7 W4
Leave it to the best special teamer of all time to set 3 records in the same single game. In the Wraiths' narrow 23-21 victory over the New Orleans Second Line, Dermot Lavelle had the game of a lifetime. As the sole returner, Lavelle returned 4 kicks and 8 punts, for a record 214 yards and 2 touchdowns. This would also incidentally set the record for total return touchdowns. The Wraiths went 13-1 that season but were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual champions, the Philadelphia Liberty. They would, however, go on to win the Ultimus in the following season, Lavelle's only title. In his career he made 13 Pro Bowls (most all-time), was named ISFL Defensive Back of the Year as well as ISFL Defensive Player of the Year for S8, for S9 and S10 was named Returner of the Year, and was inducted into the ISFL Hall of Fame in the S16 class. In turn his number 40 jersey was retired by the Wraiths. Lavelle is #1 all time in the following categories: career kick return yards, career punt return yards, career kick return touchdowns, career punt return touchdowns, career pass deflections, career interceptions, career defensive touchdowns, and ISFL games played. He is also 2nd all-time for annual punt return yards, 6th all-time for annual kick return yards, and 9th all-time for both annual pass deflections and annual interceptions. Lavelle is also 15th for highest peak TPE.
Thank you to @TomHanks for maintaining this Wiki.
This Wiki Team Publication is brought to you by Cheech65.
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