Redemption for Luke Willson with game-winning touchdown
Oct 26, 2014, 7:49 PM | Updated: Oct 28, 2014, 2:49 pm
BY
Former Seattle Sports Lead Editor
It was shaping up to be a forgettable afternoon for Seahawks tight end Luke Willson, who had more penalties than receptions before Seattle’s go-ahead drive.
That’s not to mention the third-quarter pass that slipped out of his hands when he was hit in the back near the goal line, that coming one play after his holding penalty negating a Marshawn Lynch gain.
“I don’t know who it was, the guy made a nice play, kinda timed it up well and knocked the ball out of my hands,” Willson told the postgame show on 710 ESPN Seattle, referring to the hit by Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.
“I kinda felt right after I’d get another chance.”
More coverage of the Seahawks’ Week-8 win over Carolina
| • Recap | Stats | Photos | Carroll Show | Interviews | • O’Neil: Three Things from the Seahawks’ win | • O’Neil: Wilson, Seahawks show their resolve | • O’Neil: Irvin helps Seahawks finish off Carolina | • Huard: Breaking down the go-ahead touchdown | • Henderson: Burley comes up big with first INT | • Pete Carroll Show: Missed chances on defense |
Sure enough, he would. Safe to say that Willson totally redeemed himself and then some with a 23-yard touchdown reception that helped Seattle escape Carolina with a 13-9 win.
The Seahawks had the ball at Carolina’s 23 with a fresh set of downs, a three-point deficit and less than a minute remaining on the clock. But instead of playing for the tying field goal, they went for the win.
Willson raced up the seam, showing the speed the Seahawks liked so much when they drafted him in the fifth round in 2013, then hung on for the game-winning touchdown despite one Panthers safety grabbing his arm and another drilling him just before he crossed the goal line.
It was Willson’s first touchdown of the season and the second of his career.
