Washington Stuns Nebraska 17-10 With Two Touchdowns in 15 Seconds: Chris Lawson TD, Alex McLaughlin Pick-Six

Nebraska led Washington for almost the entire game Saturday night in Lincoln. Then the Huskies scored twice in 15 seconds. Chris Lawson’s 25-yard go-ahead touchdown came with 1:30 left, and on Nebraska’s next offensive play Alex McLaughlin returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown. Washington won 17-10 at Memorial Stadium.

Both teams are now 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. Nebraska has lost three straight.

Washington vs. Nebraska: how it ended

Nebraska scored on its opening possession, a 10-play, 95-yard drive capped by Anthony Colandrea’s 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Carter Nelson, his first score of the season. The Huskers led 7-3 at halftime. Washington’s only first-half points came on a 50-yard Tyler Robles field goal.

Washington switched quarterbacks early in the fourth quarter, putting in Demond Williams Jr. for Elijah Brown. According to the AP, the play of the game came on fourth-and-18. Under heavy pressure, Williams threw toward the left sideline, and Lawson made a falling catch for a 24-yard gain. Two plays later, Williams hit Lawson on a short sideline pass. Lawson made a defender miss and dove over the goal line to give Washington its first lead. That finished a 12-play, 81-yard drive.

On the next snap, Colandrea threw over the middle toward his tight end. McLaughlin stepped in front of the pass and went untouched for a 48-yard touchdown. Nebraska kicked a 42-yard field goal with 31 seconds left, but Washington recovered the onside kick.

Chris Lawson’s career night

Lawson finished with 12 catches for 155 yards, both career highs, per the AP. Williams completed 7 passes for 99 yards and the touchdown in relief. Brown had completed 19 passes for 136 yards before the switch.

Nebraska football: three turnovers, one missed field goal

On paper, Nebraska controlled most of the game. The Huskers outgained Washington 387-267, ran for 132 yards and held the Huskies to 32 rushing yards, an opponent season low, according to Nebraska.tv. Jamal Rule ran for 72 yards on 13 carries. Colandrea threw for 255 yards on 24 completions, but he was intercepted three times. Rylon Dillard-Allen and Emmanuel Karnley had first-half picks before McLaughlin’s return.

Coach Matt Rhule took the blame for the fourth-and-18 play. “I said that play is one hundred percent me,” Rhule said, per Nebraska Athletics. “I said to Coach (Aurich) to bring the corner, and he brought the corner, and obviously they completely missed the tackle and scored.”

He also pointed to a fourth-quarter drive that reached the 3-yard line before a delay-of-game penalty and a missed field goal. “Three turnovers and a missed field goal are not a recipe to win,” Rhule said. Speaking to fans, he added: “I certainly understand how frustrated everyone is, that this has happened three games in a row. I obviously feel it too, I’m responsible for it.”

Big Ten standings picture

The result leaves both programs at 2-3 in conference play, in the crowded middle of the Big Ten. Washington didn’t lead until 90 seconds were left, and it still got back to two games over .500. Nebraska starts November on a three-game skid.

Nebraska football schedule and what’s next

• Nebraska: a short week, at Illinois on Friday, Nov. 6.
• Washington: homecoming vs. Penn State in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT).

FAQ