How's this for a Week 1 headline: "Walk-on hits walk-off FG, walks away with scholarship."
That's exactly what happened Friday to Nevada true freshman Brandon Talton after he nailed a 56-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Wolf Pack to an improbable 34-31 win over Big Ten foe Purdue.
The story is improbable on multiple levels.
First, the Wolf Pack were down 17 points at halftime and still trailed by 17, 31-14, midway through the third quarter.
Then, when the Wolf Pack scored with 52 seconds to play to make it 31-30, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebrating pushed the PAT back an additional 15 yards. A chip-shot PAT became, basically, the distance of a pressure-packed field goal of more than 30 yards. Talton connected (obviously, or there would be no story ... or, likely, a scholarship).
On the second play after the ensuing kickoff, Daniel Brown intercepted Boilermakers QB Elijah Sindelar to set up Talton's big moment.
But that moment almost didn't happen, either.
With three seconds on the clock, the Wolf Pack lined up for the potential game-winning field goal, and ... Talton missed. But Purdue coach Jeff Brohm had called timeout to ice Talton.
It didn't work.
Talton didn't miss his second attempt.
🚨 WALKOFF 🚨
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) August 31, 2019
Freshman kicker Brandon Talton NAILS a 56 yard FG @nevadafootball 34 @boilerfootball 31 pic.twitter.com/XsonzfIOno
The celebration on the field carried into the locker room, and that's when Talton's night — already a dream — got even better.
Wolf Pack coach Jay Norvell presented Talton with the game ball (no surprise) and then added the scholarship (big surprise).
It's a good night for @btalton111.#BattleBorn // #NevadaGrit pic.twitter.com/0IezKayVJs
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) August 31, 2019
Talton addressed the media afterward and was still overwhelmed: "They did all the game-ball situations, defense, all that. And then they said, 'Last one, kicker.' (Coach is) like, 'Here's your game ball.' And he said, 'And now you're on scholarship.' And I just looked at him (Norvell) in awe. ... It's crazy. It still doesn't feel real."
"It still doesn't feel real."
— 15th and Virginia (@15thAndVirginia) August 31, 2019
And here's @btalton111's reaction to getting his scholarship post game tonight.#BattleBorn x #LateNiteGifs pic.twitter.com/9iAhhM3gfA