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Simple name. Extraordinary game.
On Saturday, senior Jay Lee of Legacy Academy did something remarkable in the Silverbacks’ game against Laguna-Acoma.
Lee returned three punts for touchdowns in the same game.
“I thought,” he said Sunday, “that it was a pretty usual thing. But I guess it’s not.”
No, it most assuredly is not.
He returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
He returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
He returned a punt 46 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
And he nearly returned a fourth for a score.
“I caught it, I got to the outside, there was a guy in front of me, I just went out of bounds,” he said with a laugh.
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There was no way to know how many times, if ever, three punt returns for scores had been done in a single game in New Mexico. The New Mexico Activities Association’s record keeping does not address this particular special-teams accomplishment.
“I just went out there trying to have fun,” said the 5-foot-10, 150-pound Lee. “I love making the big play.”
He excelled at that while at Socorro; he transferred to Legacy Academy last December.
His showing on Saturday was the second magnificent day he’s had in 2025.
At the Class 2A state track and field meet in May, Lee, 17, won four events: both hurdles, the 200 and the pole vault. He was runner-up in the 100 and finished as the high-point boys athlete for the meet.
He used his speed to his great advantage Saturday against the Hawks.
“It just came natural,” he said. “When the ball is in the air, it just felt natural to get to the outside.”
On Sunday, he said he hadn’t spent much time reflecting on his feet that led to this unusual feat.
“I didn’t think anything special of it,” he said.
He also caught a touchdown pass for Legacy in what proved to be a 47-8 victory. The Silverbacks next face Hope Christian on Saturday at Rio Rancho High School.
He was asked if he stopped to wonder why Laguna-Acoma, after his second punt return for a score, kept kicking it to him.
“I was telling my buddies on the sideline, when are they gonna learn to not kick the ball to me?” he said, amused.
