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Wayback Wednesday: Northwestern uses Hail Mary to defeat Michigan State in 2001

College kickers giveth and college kickers taketh away.

Northwestern’s Big Ten opener against No. 23 Michigan State in 2001 was an instant classic. While the 2001 season ended with six straight losses, four by less than one score, the win over the Spartans deserves some recognition for its sheer insanity.

The two teams scored 22 points in the final five minutes. First, Charles Rogers scored a punt return touchdown that put Michigan State in the lead, but David Schaefer missed the extra point. But Zak Kustok, the legend, marched Northwestern back down the field to score with 29 seconds left.