Outback Bowl 2010

Northwestern has experienced this before. with 38-35 overtime defeat by Auburn during the 2010 outback bowl an exact opposite to the victory at Purdue in the regular season. The boilermakers scored six turnovers with three during the two final minutes in the first half leading to thirteen quick points. Nevertheless, Purdue only lost 27-21 at the end of the game with a goal and a first in the Northwestern 10 yard line. Painfully, Purdue failed to convert giving Northwestern a win thanks to their mistakes. Northwestern therefore paid the win forward to New Year’s Day.

Northwestern had 625 yards of total offense, including 532 yards passing from quarterback Mike Kafka. They could not overcome five interceptions, a lost fumble, two missed field goals, and a missed extra point though. Kafka, playing in his final collegiate game, set an all time bowl record with 47 completions and 78 attempts. Auburn did not fare much better in the generosity department. The Tigers also lost four fumbles to keep the Wildcats in it. Those fumbles helped make for what was one of the craziest endings in bowl history. The ending of this game was so crazy that Auburn stormed the field three times thinking it had won before the game was officially over.

With 3:20 remaining into the game, Kafka made  a two yard run while Stefan Demos a kicker made it 35-27 when he missed  extra points. Afterwards, Northwestern made a fumble followed by a drive down that field a tying touchdown. After that touchdown, Kafka set up Sidney Stewart to an 18 yard touchdown that drew wildcats within two. Subsequently Brendan Mitchell held the game tying a two point’s conversion as well as a fumble during kickoff return to give Northwestern right back the ball. The game continued to an overtime after Demos the 44-yard field goal.

With Auburns scoring a field goal only on its overtime possession therefore, Northwestern required only a touchdown to emerge victors. Initially it seemed as though Auburn had secured itself a victory the minute Kafka was fumbled and sacked to the Tigers. This fumble was later overturned after review of the replay which saw Auburn back to the sideline. Auburn worked itself out once again following Demos missing yet more field goal after some plays later though a roughing kicker penalty was awarded leading to a first down being granted to Northwestern.

Following Northwestern failure to make a touchdown preceded by the penalty it prepared for another
field goal. With Demos suffering an injury from a previous attempt, back up kicker Steve Falherty was implored to try a trying field goal. Rather than attempt to tie Northwestern faked a field goal attempt. This saw Zeke Markshausen given a handoff between the legs by Dan Persa during the fake attempt and tackled before scoring. This saw Auburn match into the field since it had secured a vigorously earned bowl victory.

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