SEATTLE -- As BYU took a victory lap around Husky Stadium after its cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for-a-miracle 28-27 win over Washington, this is the thought likely running through the minds of Cougar fans and players alike:

"It's about flippin' time we caught a break on the road."

No. 15 BYU finally won a road game against a BCS opponent, and you can credit an persistent Cougar offense, an error of youthful exuberance by the wonderfully talented Jake Locker and the ghost of Eathyn Manumaleuna.

Locker, who was spectacular all day, guided the Huskies on a 17-play drive and dove into the end zone with two seconds to play to bring his team to within an extra point of forcing overtime. But Locker tossed the ball high in the air in celebration and was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That forced a 35-yard extra-point attempt, and BYU junior Jan Jorgensen batted down Ryan Perkins' kick.

BYU called the same play -- "all-out rush" -- that resulted in Manumaleuna's block to preserve the Las Vegas Bowl win over UCLA last December.

"It was very similar to last year," Jorgensen said. "I thought about that when they scored. I thought, 'We're gonna block it, we've been here before, we're gonna do it.' Whether it was going to be me or one of my boys on the team, one of my brothers, it was gonna happen."

BYU junior quarterback Max Hall, who was 30-of-41 for 338 yards and three touchdowns, said it was about time the Cougars got a break on the road.

"I kept saying to myself, 'we're due,' " he said. "We finally caught a break, but I think it's more that just catching a break. I think it's just where this team is at, the type of guys we have on this team. Jan's a team captain and he made a play.

"Jan came off the field exhausted. He could barely even stand up. He gave all he had and left it all on the field. He couldn't talk and could barely breathe."

BYU took a 28-21 lead after Hall hit tight end Dennis Pitta (10 catches, 148 yards) with a 15-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter but left 3:32 on the clock. Washington used up all but two seconds of the remaining time to move slowly into scoring position, a drive that included a 13-yard scramble by Locker on fourth-and-10 at the Washington 36.

On third-and-goal with eight seconds showing, Locker turned left end from shotgun formation and stumbled into the end zone. But his celebration drew a flag from the Pac 10 officiating crew, much to the dismay of most of the 64,611 at Husky Stadium.

"It's unfortunate, but it's one that they almost have to call," Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham said. "It really should be a no-call, but it's one that they have to call when they see it."

BYU (2-0) took the opening kickoff and marched 76 yards on nine plays, the touchdown coming on a 38-yard pass from Hall to Austin Collie, for a 7-0 lead. Washington (0-2) rebounded by scoring twice to take a 14-7 advantage. Late in the second quarter, Hall led a 14-play drive, culminating in a 1-yard scoring pass to junior tight end Andrew George to tie the game at 14-all at the half.

The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. BYU nearly broke the tie with another long drive but Harvey Unga (23 carries, 136 yards) coughed up the ball on a big hit by UW's Nate Williams at the goal line, and the Huskies recovered for a touchback.

Undaunted, BYU got the ball back and went 84 yards on nine plays, the big one a 25-yard connection from Hall to Pitta.

"When we were so close and fumbled on the goal line like that, we lost an opportunity to put them away," Pitta said. "We were able to move the ball all day on them. We knew we deserved to win the game."

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall picked up his first road win against a BCS conference opponent and it was the Cougars' first such victory since 2001.

"This game just demonstrates how hard it is to win on the road against a good team," Mendenhall said. "This is going to sound cliche', but this game was just the next game to improve our program. It just shows we're not there yet, but we're getting closer. We have not arrived but we're making progress. We're learning a lot about this year's team. I'll be glad to take a one-point win like this."

BYU outgained Washington 475 yards to 337 and converted 12-of-14 (86 percent) on third downs.

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com. Read his blog at cougarblue.com. Dickson hosts "The Home Team" on AM 1400 KSTAR weekdays from 4-6 p.m.