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With under two minutes to go in the first quarter and Washington State leading 7-6 over California, Cougars QB Jayden de Laura lofted a hurried throw to the corner of the end zone with pressure in his face. It was the kind of throw that usually sails harmlessly out of bounds.
Calvin Jackson Jr. made sure it didn’t with one of the best catches you’ll ever see — or any other year, to be honest:
SAY HELLO TO ONE OF THE BEST TOUCHDOWN CATCHES OF THE YEAR.@PrimetimeCeej pic.twitter.com/7MCY5irRTF
— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) October 2, 2021
It feels like the physics of this one-handed catch should be impossible — turned the wrong way, momentum heading out of bounds — but Jackson pulled it off.
My favorite part of the play is how Jackson protests after the catch is ruled incomplete, because he knew he caught it, and he knew he got a foot down. The play was subsequently overturned on replay.
It was Jackson’s second touchdown in WSU’s first two drives after he hauled in a short pass in the flat and took it 22 yards to the goal line.
Jackson now has three touchdown catches this season.