Scoring drought over for ‘Friday Night Lights’

Sometimes a touchdown comes when the clock is winding down.

After its fourth — and possibly final season — “Friday Night Lights” finally scored big on Emmy day. The series set against high school football scored four nominations Thursday, including major ones for Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler, who star as Dillon, Texas’ all-star couple, for lead actress and lead actor in a drama.

FOR THE RECORD:
“Friday Night Lights”: An article in Friday’s Calendar section about Emmy nominations for the series “Friday Night Lights” misspelled the first name of Emmy-nominated writer Rolin Jones as Robin. —

“This is not something we had been thinking about this year,” Britton said. “I think it’s more flattering because we were so used to not being nominated [in the major categories].”

The family drama debuted on NBC in 2006, and, after its second season, has been kept alive despite low ratings with the help of a co-production deal between satellite provider DirecTV and NBC.

But the critical darling — with much of the attention aimed at Chandler and Britton’s portrayals of Eric and Tami Taylor — has always been the underdog in the Emmy playoffs.

“I think the timing of it is great — at this moment we’re just two or three weeks away from wrapping the season and, possibly, the series,” said Jason Katims, one of the show’s executive producers.

The show also nabbed nominations for casting in a drama (a category it’s been previously nominated in three times and won in 2007) and a first-time acknowledgment for writing, which went to Robin Jones’ script for “The Son.”

“We’ve had such amazing support from fans and critics, the fact that that never translated to [major] Emmy noms for the show was something we never really understood,” Britton said. “But I guess it’s all subjective. It’s satisfying enough that the people who are watching it are enjoying it; that’s the true measure of success. Awards and nominations are just kind of icing on the cake. With Kyle and I both nominated, it’s almost like the whole show is being recognized.”

This marks Chandler’s second Emmy nomination; he was recognized for a guest role on a 2006 episode of “Grey’s Anantomy.” But it is Britton’s first Emmy nomination, despite acting credits that include four seasons on “Spin City.”

“I was like ‘What?’” Britton said of the nomination. “I thought it must be a mistake. I can’t describe the feeling. It’s amazing.”

yvonne.villarreal

@latimes.com