Texas Tech senior punter Dominic Panazzolo was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week Monday after averaging 42.4 yards per punt last week in the win over TCU.
Panazzolo is the second Red Raider to earn a Big 12 weekly award this season, joining freshman quarterback Alan Bowman, who was the conference’s Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 17. He is the first Red Raider to garner special teams recognition since Keke Coutee on Nov. 13 last year.
The Australian native was vital for the Red Raiders late in their 17-14 victory as he downed three of his seven punts inside the 2010, including one on the one-yard line and another on the two-yard line in the fourth quarter alone.
Panazzolo’s punt to the one-yard line set up the Red Raider defense for a 3-and-Out, giving Tech optimal field possession on the ensuing drive. Tech scored one play later on a 38-yard touchdown run from Jett Duffey that pushed the Red Raiders back ahead with a 17-14 lead.
De’Quan Bowman downed Panazzolo’s last punt of the night at the two-yard line, forcing TCU to go the length of the field with just over two minutes remaining. The Horned Frogs were picked off by Adrian Frye later in the drive, securing Tech’s third-straight Big 12 road victory, its longest streak since the 2008 season.
In addition, Panazzolo limited TCU standout Kavontae Turpin to just five yards on his only return as the Horned Frog senior entered the game averaging over 20 yards per punt return this season. Panazzolo matched his career high with seven punts, which included a 50-yarder that was his second-longest of the season.
Panazzolo and the Red Raiders will host Kansas this Saturday afternoon as part of Homecoming festivities on the Tech campus. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium with coverage provided on FOX Sports 1 and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
COURTESY OF TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS