Chris Lawson recorded his first 100-yard receiving game, hauling in six catches for 103 yards to lead Washington to a 38-26 win over Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium on Friday night.
The second-year wide receiver has been building toward this milestone over the last two weeks, coming off performances of 82 and 86 receiving yards against USC and Iowa, respectively. His 103-yard outing against the Boilermakers was a mix of consistent gains and big plays, with five of his six receptions going for 10 or more yards and two exceeding 20 yards. Lawson’s contributions helped the Huskies maintain offensive momentum, particularly on a key drive late in the third quarter when he made a 24-yard catch to spark the team’s scoring.
Washington started quarterback Elijah Brown in place of the injured Demond Williams Jr., who missed the game with a rib injury suffered against Iowa the previous week. Brown’s connection with Lawson proved effective, as the sophomore wideout became the primary target in Jedd Fisch’s offense. Lawson’s six catches came on seven targets, highlighting his role in the passing game.
Lawson’s previous best in receptions came just a week earlier in a loss to Iowa, where he caught eight passes for 86 yards. That 86-yard total also nearly matched his career high in receiving yards, which was set in the season opener against Washington State with 87 yards. The Purdue game, therefore, represented a breakthrough for the San Francisco native and former four-star recruit from Archbishop Riordan High School.
“Chris Lawson and (Dezmen) Roebuck are two second-year players that combined for 200 receiving yards,” head coach Jedd Fisch said after the victory in West Lafayette, Indiana. “We are trying to build this thing our way, and that’s going to take time in terms of getting better. But they’re also the most resilient of the youngest people we have because they haven’t dealt with some of the other adversity that the other guys have gotten. I think that’s why the young guys that we have can just keep on playing.”
Lawson has made steady progress since his freshman season in 2025, when he appeared in eight games and finished with 10 receptions for 115 yards. He trailed only Raiden Vines-Bright and Dezmen Roebuck in appearances among first-year wide receivers. Vines-Bright transferred to Arizona State this offseason after 12 appearances and seven starts last year, while Roebuck remains a key contributor alongside Lawson.
Through the first seven games of the 2026 season, Lawson ranks second on the Huskies with 32 receptions for 483 yards and two touchdowns. His scoring plays came in Week 3 against Eastern Washington and last Friday’s game against Iowa, which was Washington’s second conference loss this year to Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Lawson is emerging as a reliable option in Washington’s offense. His performance at Purdue underlines his ability to stretch the field and make plays after the catch. Lawson’s breakout game reflects growing chemistry with Brown and the Huskies’ passing attack despite a 4-3 record so far this season.
According to Yahoo Sports.
