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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:13 a.m., Sunday, December 30, 2007

NFL: Davis' 2 kick return TDs lead Texans to 42-28 win

By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON — Meaningless game? Not to Andre' Davis and the Houston Texans.

Davis returned two kickoffs for touchdowns today to lead the Texans to a 42-28 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5), who rested many starters with their playoff spot secure.

The victory gives the Texans (8-8) a .500 finish for the first time in franchise history, and their 42 points are a team record.

Ron Dayne added two touchdowns and 88 yards rushing for Houston in his return after missing two starts with a sore ankle. He set a career-high with 773 yards rushing this season.

Davis' two returns came on consecutive kickoffs, which made him the first player this season to return two for scores in a single game. He's the seventh player in league history to achieve the feat.

He also had a fumble recovery that led to a touchdown.

His first return, a 97-yarder, came 15 seconds before halftime and put Houston ahead 21-14. He evaded the first wave of defenders before cutting to the outside, where he tightroped the sideline the rest of the way for the score.

He turned in the longest play in Texans history on the second one. Davis dashed 104 yards on the opening kickoff of the second half to make it 28-14. This time, he got a block from Charlie Anderson and then wove down the middle of the field before breaking away from the pack and racing to the end zone.

The Jaguars started Quinn Gray, who threw four touchdown passes, in place of David Garrard. Six other starters, including Fred Taylor and Paul Spicer, were inactive.