Rock Cartwright may be the shortest Redskin, but he turned in Washington's biggest play of Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Midway through the second quarter at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys had just taken a 10-0 lead when Cartwright fielded the ensuing kickoff at his goal line.

Cartwright, the Redskins' 5-7, 215-pound running back and return specialist, followed a wall of blockers to his right and got a full head of steam. He followed a key block by Mike Pucillo and Demetric Evans and ran into open field.

Only punter Shaun Suisham and defensive back Jacques Reeves remained in his way.

Cartwright broke a tackle by Suisham and avoided a diving tackle by Reeves. He showed impressive speed in breaking away from the pack, outrunning the Cowboys defenders to the end zone.

One of the first players to congratulate Cartwright in the end zone? Clinton Portis, who was sitting out the game to rest a shoulder injury.

The play gave the Redskins some momentum midway through the first half. But the Cowboys proved superior on Sunday night, winning 27-10.

It was the longest return of Cartwright's career. His previous high was a 32-yard return back in 2002.

Entering the 2006 season, Cartwright had logged 17 kickoff returns for an average of 17.3 yards per return.

Any time the Redskins play in Texas, it's a big game for Cartwright. He hails from Conroe, Tex., a suburb of Houston, where the Redskins play next Sunday.