Even though the World Cup’s getting a ton of attention this time of year, Mathew Sexton, whose senior season with Eastern Michigan was back in 2019, had a highlight punt return with his professional Canadian team over the weekend.
To break a third-quarter tie, Sexton returned the Ottawa Redblack punt 101 yards for a touchdown. Saskatchewan Roughriders took the lead, and finished with a winning score of 27-22. Sexton ended the game with four punt returns for 135 yards, and two kick returns for 49 yards.
Not bad for a first game with your new team.
Not bad for a little revenge moment either. Sexton was signed by the Riders in May after the Redblacks released him. Sexton, undrafted in 2020, has spent time with some NFL teams (Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots), but he’s played some XFL/UFL football too (Vegas Vipers, San Antonio Brahmas).
He even played for a now-defunct spring football league back in 2020:
Here’s Sexton going 83 yards for a big score in a UFL game just last year in San Antonio:
It hasn’t been glamorous, but Sexton’s been able to achieve a rare feat. Sexton can say that he’s spent most of his 20’s being a professional football player. His version of that looks different than, say, Maxx Crosby’s version of being a pro baller, but Sexton, set to turn 29 in October, is still out there well after his college graduation.
Guys like Sexton don’t get all of the attention in the world, and that’s to be expected. His football career probably won’t end with a feel-good touch manufactured by Disney, and his professional career might end without ever seeing his name printed at EMU’s Ring of Honor.
But damnit if he isn’t always due for another big moment on special teams.
