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Javon Leake drifted to his right and fielded the kickoff at the 3-yard line. The junior running back revved up the engine and started to his left. He shed a tackler, cut across the field and found open space. His Maryland football team had fallen behind, 35-0, in its Nov. 2 homecoming game against Michigan, but Leake was about to provide a bright spot.
"As soon as you see that he gets into space, you know it's a touchdown," Terps quarterback Josh Jackson said after the game. "You can just put your arms up because he's got it."
The return ended with Leake in the Maryland flag-emblazoned end zone for a 97-yard touchdown. The Terps were on the board. And Leake was in the program record books, tying Torrey Smith with three kick return touchdowns in his career.