Washington coach Kalen DeBoer decided the moment was too perfect Saturday to wait any longer.

As walk-on kicker Grady Gross returned to the locker room after kicking the game-winning 42-yard field goal in the Huskies' dramatic 24-21 win over Washington State in the Apple Cup, he was informed he was now officially on scholarship.

"It's something we've been talking about -- he's earned it. He's had a great year. I know he's had a couple misses, but he's just such a mentally-tough kid. I see it every day in practice. We've seen big kicks in games and all of that. Certainly, we were just looking for the right time. I think today was the right time to make that happen," DeBoer said.

"It's a decision that we pretty much knew was going to happen at some point, and why not capture the moment, for the team and for Grady," DeBoer added. "It's something I think you will remember for the rest of your life -- not just the kick itself but what happened after. He's just a special guy."

Gross, a sophomore from Scottsdale, Arizona, who handled kickoffs as a freshman last year before taking on field goal/extra point duties this season, is 11 of 15 on field goals (including 5 of 6 from 40 yards or longer).