Graham Gano hopped around the turf at FedEx Field on Sunday afternoon as if he was celebrating a Super Bowl victory.
In reality, the Washington Redskins kicker drilled a 59-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. The kick was the longest in team history, besting Steve Cox’s 57-yarder in 1986.
High-fives, chest-bumps and general revelry from Gano followed, even with the San Francisco 49ers leading 13-3.
By game’s end, Gano’s demeanor was subdued.
“It feels good being in the record books, but any time you lose the game, it’s meaningless, really,” he said. “Yeah, I always feel like I’ve got it in me.”
Gano hit a 65-yarder during high school in Pensacola, Fla., but hadn’t hit a kick longer than 50 yards in parts of three NFL seasons.
Gano credited long-snapper Nick Sundberg and holder Sav Rocca for setting the stage for the blast.
“We were hitting the ball pretty well in warm-ups,” Gano said. “I was pretty confident. The wind kind of died down then so I felt good.”
Penalties follow Williams
Tackle Trent Williams returned Sunday after missing two games since he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 16.
But two penalties — including a critical personal foul in the second quarter — overshadowed the second-year player’s afternoon.
After John Beck connected with Jabar Gaffney for a 10-yard gain on third-and-8 at midfield, Williams was penalized. That wiped out Gaffney’s catch and put the Redskins in a third-and-23 hole.
“If they’re playing through the whistle, we’re going through the whistle,” said Williams, who maintained he didn’t hear the whistle ending the play. “I defended and they called a penalty.”
That earned him an in-game reminder from coach Mike Shanahan to keep his poise.
“I’ve got to tone it down a little,” Williams said. “I ain’t doing nothing dirty. I ain’t trying to take nobody out. I’m just playing football.”
Williams was also called for a false start.
Against the Eagles, Williams was also whistled for a personal foul and afterward spoke of the need to maintain his composure.
Hurt starts on offensive line
Rookie Maurice Hurt started at left guard as part of a reimagined Redskins offensive line.
After the unit allowed 10 sacks against the Buffalo Bills, Will Montgomery shifted back to his natural center position, Hurt replaced him at left guard and Erik Cook returned to his backup role at center and guard.
“It was amazing, man,” said Hurt, a seventh-round pick elevated from the practice squad after Kory Lichtensteiger’s season-ending knee injury. “Obviously, I wished there was a better outcome. But it was a great feeling.”
The group allowed just one sack and six hits on Beck.
Hurt admitted to pregame nervousness.
“But they were good nerves,” he said. “I was excited. I feel like I was prepared.”
Trio of Redskins banged up
Tackle Jammal Brown (groin), defensive end Kedric Golston and receiver Niles Paul (toe) all left the game because of injury.
Golston and Paul both said they were fine.
Brown, who missed the 2009 season after left hip surgery, said the injury was on the same side.
“The hip is going to be sore off and on,” Brown said. “With the groin, it makes it kind of tough.”
Sean Locklear replaced Brown.
*Rich Campbell contributed to this report.
• Amanda Comak can be reached at acomak@washingtontimes.com.
• Nathan Fenno can be reached at nfenno@washingtontimes.com.
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