Columbia, Mo. ? Beyond achieving a dream, Marcus James’ 80-yard punt return got him into the end zone and Missouri’s record books.

In a 42-35 loss Saturday at Iowa State, James’ runback :quot; Missouri’s longest on a punt in 42 years – made him the first Tiger to return a punt for a score since 1990.

The fourth-quarter feat, which tied the game at 35, was good enough to earn Big 12 special teams player-of-the-week honors.

“After watching film, it’s something you dream about doing,” he said. “I’ve been part of the punt-return team since I’ve been here and those are the type of plays you want to make. It’s a big, big, play.”

A week earlier, James returned a punt 48 yards in Missouri’s home victory over rival Kansas.

He later told Tigers coach Gary Pinkel that had he made one last cutback instead of going out of bounds, he could have scored.

Against Iowa State, he made that cutback.

“It was a chance to cut back and make something happen out of that” against Kansas, he said. “It didn’t happen, and I had the opportunity (against the Cyclones), and I made a big play.”

James is fifth in the conference and 22nd in the NCAA with an average of 13.7 yards per return. No Tiger has averaged more than 10 yards in a season since 1990.

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound James isn’t imposing, though he has something Pinkel cherishes in a punt returner :quot; the ability to hang onto the ball.

“The first thing is can you catch the ball,” Pinkel said. “You could be the quickest kid in America, but if you can’t catch the ball, you can’t go back there, we can’t trust you.”

James was a three-sport standout at Liberal High, where he scored touchdowns as a receiver, rusher, blocking a punt, returning a punt and returning an interception.

“Marcus is a guy that I’ve always wondered why he hasn’t been able to break one,” Pinkel said. “Once you do it, he knows he can do it. We hope to see more.”

James, who also is a pole vaulter for the Mizzou track team, is the Tigers’ third-leading receiver.

“You need someone you can count on, and Marcus is someone you can count on,” said MU receiver Justin Gage.