10/12/2026
Four punt returns for four touchdowns...
- in a season is good.
- in a game is great.
BUT FOUR PUNT RETURNS FOR FOUR TOUCHDOWNS IN THE FIRST QUARTER IS UNHEARD OF.
We get a lot of messages from people celebrating achievements. Although many accomplishments are exciting, and parents have every reason to be proud, some things we simply congratulate them on, but can't really post because so many other student athletes have already accomplished the same feat.
But sometimes we open a message or email, to find something special that we've never, personally, seen before.
This is one of those "wow" moments that made us imagine the sky opening up and God deciding to give one young man his one shining moment. That one young man? HOLDENVILLE Junior RJ LOWE.
On Friday night, October 9, 2026, before time even ran out on the FIRST QUARTER, the Wolverines had scored 56 points, and RJ LOWE had accomplished something pretty incredible in Oklahoma high school sports history, and something most definitely I Was At The Game 'post-worthy'.
And just how incredible was it?
KELLYVILLE punted the football five times in the FIRST QUARTER. RJ Lowe caught and ran back, four of them!!
* 1st punt was an 85-yard punt return for a Touchdown.
* 2nd punt was a 50-yard punt return for another Touchdown.
* 3rd punt was a 68-yard punt return for a 3rd Touchdown.
* 4th punt went out of bounds, which appeared to be an attempt to keep it away from Lowe.
* 5th punt was returned by Lowe for his 4th Touchdown. This one for 50 yards.
With just five seconds remaining in the FIRST QUARTER, Holdenville had already put 56 POINTS on the scoreboard.
Here's the part that makes that number even harder to believe:
The Wolverines had reportedly run only THREE offensive plays in the entire FIRST QUARTER…but had 56 POINTS!!!! That’s crazy!
And the story doesn’t end there. RJ Lowe STILL wasn't done making plays.
In the second quarter, RJ nearly did the unthinkable and took ANOTHER punt all the way back for what would have been his fifth punt-return touchdown of the night — but the score was wiped away by a personal foul on the return. NFHS Statisticians’ Manual says he gets credit for the yardage up to the point of foul. So, add another 32 yards.
On defense, he picked off a KELLYVILLE pass and returned it all the way to the 3-yard line, setting up another Holdenville touchdown. His teammate—and brother—Senior #15 TENETKE LOWE finished the job, carrying it into the end zone. So, we add another 50 yards to the total.
Holdenville went on to win the game 72-8.
When asked about RJ’s incredible performance, Darin Johnson, Defensive Coordinator said, “RJ did an exceptional job of following his blockers and making cuts that set up blocks. Each of the returns were a total team effort. These kids love to support each other and that is what makes them special.”
When watching film, I observed RJ changing directions, to immediately find blocks from teammates that kept the defenders from following him. Their support was also obvious in the way they cheered and celebrated as RJ was nearing the end zone. It was “their“ touchdown. They were all part of it.
So, well done to everyone on the field with RJ that allowed him to shine, and the team succeed.
There have been a lot of incredible athletic performances over the years in Oklahoma high school football. But FOUR punt-return touchdowns in one quarter?
That's one we'll remember.
Congratulations to RJ LOWE on a Friday night that he, his family, his teammates, his coaches and the Holdenville community won't soon forget.
Some nights, everything just seems to come together. And sometimes, a deserving young man gets his one shining moment.
This past Friday night both of those things happened for RJ Lowe.
______________________
RJ Lowe by the numbers-
4 PUNT RETURN TOUCHDOWNS
🏈 85 YARDS
🏈 50 YARDS
🏈 68 YARDS
🏈 50 YARDS
ANOTHER PUNT RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN
(called back due to a personal foul)
🏈 32 YARDS
1 INTERCEPTION
🏈 50 YARDS
This is one for the books…
* Videos in a separate post.
Brought to you by I Was At The Game Football Sponsor-
National Land Realty - Kingfisher- Dillon Smith
National Land Realty- Oklahoma with offices in Kingfisher, Ada and Tulsa Holdenville, Oklahoma
Thank you to Alan Hargis for bringing this story to our attention and for providing stats.
