How to Use runback in a Sentence

runback

noun
  • Richie James’ lone punt return was a 26-yard runback that set the stage for a short field-goal drive.
    Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 19 Jan. 2020
  • Pretty simple shots for the most part, other than his runback in [the fifth end].
    Chuck Culpepper, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Feb. 2018
  • Olszewski fielded the ball at the 4-yard line and, with the help of Henry, was able to return the ball 31 yards — his longest runback of the season.
    BostonGlobe.com, 27 Oct. 2021
  • Kitchens should be thankful Beckham didn’t pop a hamstring on his strange runback that led to a hard hit and a fumble.
    Terry Pluto, cleveland, 9 Oct. 2019
  • Richie James had a nice 18-yard return on his only kickoff runback.
    Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 13 Oct. 2019
  • Sexton's runback led to a 4-yard scoring run by much-traveled running back Kalen Ballage, now with his fourth team in as many years.
    Barry Wilner, ajc, 6 Aug. 2021
  • The noise represents both the anticipation from some in the crowd that Barkley will break the runback for a touchdown, and prayers being said by others that he doesn’t get hurt.
    Joe Juliano, Philly.com, 14 Sep. 2017
  • There is already some debate, however, on whether the new rule will tempt teams to kick the ball to, say, the 5-yard line and force a runback, which could actually increase the risk of injury.
    Ken Belson, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2016
  • But a personal foul, one of 14 Ocean View penalties on the night, negated Washington’s sizable runback.
    Matt Szabo, Daily Pilot, 28 Sep. 2017
  • After a great Riley Lees punt return was negated by a foolish block-in-the-back penalty that didn’t influence the runback, Johnson took a shotgun snap and looked to pass.
    Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, 28 Sep. 2019
  • Garror’s punt return, a 38-yard runback that gave Louisiana a short field on its second touchdown drive.
    Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 14 Nov. 2020
  • Wishnowsky had allowed only 2 punt-return yards in his first seven games before Arizona’s Pharoh Cooper had 17 on three runbacks.
    Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 6 Nov. 2019
  • McCaffrey, the first-round pick from Stanford, averaged 2.3 yards on three punt returns last week after having a 21-yard runback negated by a penalty.
    Joseph Person, charlotteobserver, 15 Sep. 2017
  • Tennessee also has returned only one punt this season, but the Volunteers' runback went for 20 yards.
    Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 7 Nov. 2020
  • His versatility vexes opposing coaches who every week struggle with how to set up a runback and guard against a fake.
    Ben Shpigel, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2017
  • But Mariano Sori-Marin was called for unnecessary roughness during the runback.
    Dave Campbell, chicagotribune.com, 13 Nov. 2020
  • Linebacker Alec Ogletree was sidelined in the second quarter after injuring a hamstring during his runback of a fumble that was later reversed by replay and ruled an incomplete pass.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2019
  • The Demon Deacons have returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season after Keith's runback.
    Bob Sutton, Star Tribune, 2 Oct. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'runback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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