Northwestern had seen this before. Their 38-35 overtime loss to Auburn in the 2010 Outback Bowl was almost the exact opposite of their victory at Purdue during the regular season. In that game, the Boilermakers had six turnovers, including three in the final two minutes of the first half that led to 13 quick points. Still, Purdue only trailed 27-21 in the final minute with a first and goal inside the Northwestern 10 yard line. Agonizingly, Purdue could not convert and Northwestern was given a win thanks mostly to the other team’s mistakes. They were able to pay that win forward on New Year’s Day.

Northwestern has a total offence of 625 yard with Mike Kafka, the quarterback, passing 532 yards. They could not triumph over five interceptions, two lost field goals, a lost fumble and a lost extra point. An all time bowling record of 78 attempts and 47 completions was set by Kafka during the game which was also his final collegiate game. Auburn were neither generous with them beating them mercilessly. Wildcats kept themselves with four lost fumbles by Tigers making it among the craziest bowl ending in history. Auburn’s three times storming the field ahead of the final whistle presuming victory made the end crazy.

Kafka scored on a two yard run with 3:20 left in the game, but kicker Stefan Demos missed the extra points to make it 35-27. Northwestern then forced a fumble and drove down the field for the tying touchdown. Just two minutes after the previous touchdown Kafka found Sidney Stewart for an 18 yard touchdown pass to pull the Wildcats within two. Brendan Mitchell then caught the game’s tying two point conversion, and a fumble on the kickoff return gave Northwestern the ball right back. Demos missed a 44-yard field goal and the game went to overtime.

After Auburn scored only a field goal on its overtime possession northwestern needed only a touchdown to win the game. At first it looked as if Auburn had locked up a victory when Kafka was sacked and fumbled to the Tigers. The fumble was overturned on a replay review, however, and Auburn had to return to its sideline. Auburn rushed the field once more when Demos missed yet another field goal a few plays later, but a roughing the kicker penalty was called and a first down was awarded to Northwestern.

After northwestern failed to score a touchdown following the penalty it lined up for another field goal. This time backup kicker Steve Falherty was called on to try a tying field goal because Demos was injured on the previous attempt. Instead of trying to tie Northwestern ran a fake field goal attempt. Zeke Markshausen took a between the legs handoff from Dan Persa on the fake attempt, but was tackled before scoring. That finally let Auburn storm the field – for real this time – as it had locked up a hard earned bowl victory.

For More Sports Info See: Penn State Comforters or South Florida Belts or Southern Mississippi Belt

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