PISCATAWAY −Rutgers football nearly saw its lead slip away, but for the second straight week held on for a tight victory.

The Scarlet Knights beat Washington 21-18 Friday night at SHI Stadium to move to 4-0 on the season for the first time since 2012.

The Huskies had a chance to tie it with 35 seconds left, but kicker Grady Gross missed a 55-yard field goal attempt as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Takeaways from Rutgers' win over Washington

Here's how the game unfolded:

4Q, 1:40: Washington slices Rutgers' lead

The Huskies scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Denzel Boston and converted the two-point attempt.

It's 21-18 Rutgers.

4Q, 10:57: Sam Brown scores on a 37-yard run

Rutgers had third-and-4 but Brown took the handoff and rumbled 37 yards for a touchdown.

It's 21-10 Scarlet Knights.

3Q, 4:23: Washington cuts into Rutgers' lead

A 51-yard pass from Will Rogers to Denzel Boston cuts Rutgers' lead to 14-10.

2Q, 0:30 Rutgers extends its lead with some help from Washington

Kaliakmanis throws a great pass to Ian Strong into the end zone on first-and-10 from the Huskies 15, Strong made a great catch and it's 14-3 Rutgers.

Scarlet Knights got some help from the Huskies. On the previous play, Rutgers attempted a 38-yard field goal that was blocked. But Washington got called for an illegal substitution that gave the Scarlet Knights a first down.

They took advantage in a big way.

2Q, 11:26: Rutgers football takes the lead on Kyle Monangai touchdown

Monangai punches it in from one yard out and it's 7-3 Scarlet Knights.

Athan Kaliakmanis made some big plays on that drive, including a 19-yard pass to Chris Long on third-and-10 from the Rutgers 37, a 13-yard on second-and-9 from the Washington 43 and a 12-yard pass to Dymere Miller on third-and-9 from the Huskies 29.

1Q, 4:13: Washington takes a 3-0 lead on Rutgers

A 22-yard field goal puts the Huskies up 3-0.

Washington got down to the 5-yard line (with the help of a roughing the passer call on Jordan Thomspon on 1-and-10 at the 22) but Rutgers kept the Huskies out of the end zone.

Rutgers football vs Washington availability report

It's a pretty light availability report for Rutgers this week:

OUT

QB AJ Surace

LB Mohamed Toure

DL JaSire Peterson

QUESTIONABLE

RB Ja'shon Benjamin

OL Shedrick Rhodes

What channel is Rutgers football vs Washington on today?

TV channel: FOX

Livestream:Fubo (free trial), SlingTV

Rutgers vs. Washington prediction, picks, odds

Rutgers is a 2.5-point favorite, according to Action Network as of Sept. 26.

O/U: Over 44.5 (-111), Under 44.5 (-109)

Moneyline: Rutgers -130, Washington +110

Prediction: This isn’t an easy game to predict – it’ll be the toughest opponent either team has faced so far this season. If the Scarlet Knights can get off to a fast start and keep the crowd roaring, that should give them a pretty good advantage. But it’s going to come to limiting any potential big plays by Will Rogers and finding a way to move the ball effectively against a high-level defense. Most importantly? Don't turn the ball over. Rutgers 21, Washington 17

Rutgers football 2024 schedule

Aug. 29: vs. Howard, W, 44-7

Sept. 7: vs. Akron, W, 49-17

Sept. 21: at Virginia Tech, W, 26-23

Sept. 27: vs. Washington, 8 p.m.

Oct. 5: at Nebraska, noon/3:30 p.m./4 p.m.

Oct. 12: vs. Wisconsin, TBA

Oct. 19: vs. UCLA, noon/3:30 p.m./4 p.m.

Oct. 25: at USC, 11 p.m.

Nov. 9: vs. Minnesota, TBA

Nov. 16: at Maryland, TBA

Nov. 23: vs. Illinois, TBA

Nov. 30: at Michigan State, TBA

Washington football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31: vs. Weber State, W, 35-3

Sept. 7: vs. Eastern Michigan, W, 30-9

Sept. 14: at Washington State, L, 24-19

Sept. 21: vs. Northwestern, W, 24-5

Sept. 27: at Rutgers, 8 p.m. ET

Oct. 5: vs. Michigan, TBD

Oct. 12: at Iowa, TBD

Oct. 26: at Indiana, TBD

Nov. 2: vs. USC, 3:30 p.m. ET/4 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. ET

Nov. 9: at Penn State, TBD

Nov. 15: vs. UCLA, 9 p.m. ET

Nov. 30: at Oregon, TBD

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football vs Washington: Game updates, live score