16 for '16: 'The Westercatch'

Nebraska came into its home game against Northwestern on Nov. 2, 2013, in desperate need of some positive momentum.

The Huskers had just dropped to 6-2 on the year following an ugly road loss at Minnesota the week prior, and they needed something big to happen to remain in the Big Ten Legends Division race and get their season back on track.

Little did they know that two of the most unlikely of characters would end up putting together one of the most unforgettable finishes in program history to accomplish that task.

Trailing by three with just over a minute to play and no timeouts, the Huskers turned to senior walk-on backup quarterback Ron Kellogg for the game’s final drive. On the last play as time expired, Kellogg’s 49-yard Hail Mary heave found its way into the arms of true freshman wide out Jordan Westerkamp in the end zone.

The touchdown gave NU what is believed to be the first walk-off Hail Mary victory in school history, and it had the 91,140 fans inside Memorial Stadium rejoicing in a 27-24 victory.

In a game with major implications in the Big Ten Legends Division standings, Nebraska struck first with a five-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy Armstrong, who was making just his fourth career start.

But Northwestern quickly answered in a big way, as running back Treyvon Green scored three consecutive touchdowns over the next 16 minutes to give the Wildcats a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Armstrong finally got NU’s offense going again and threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Quincy Enunwa to send the Huskers into halftime down a touchdown.

While Nebraska's offense continued to struggle on into the third quarter, the defense definitely picked up its play in a big way.

The Huskers stopped Northwestern on nine straight drives between the end of the second quarter and into the fourth quarter, and then the Blackshirts took matters into their own hands.

Defensive end Avery Moss picked off Wildcat quarterback Trevor Siemian - who was absolutely leveled by fellow end Randy Gregory as he let the ball go - and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to tie it at 21-21 with 7:10 to go in the third.

That score held until the final minutes of the fourth, as Northwestern came up with what appeared to be the biggest play of the day when Armstrong was picked off for the third time by linebacker Tyler Scott at the NU 35 and returned all the way to the 7 with 2:30 remaining.

The Blackshirts held tough and forced a 21-yard field goal by Jeff Budzien that made it 24-21 with 1:20 to go, setting up the eventual play of the season.

Needing roughly 45 yards to get into field goal range with just 1:14 remaining and no timeouts, Nebraska's turned to the Kellogg to lead their final drive. Kellogg hit running back Ameer Abdullah for a 12-yard pass on his first play but quickly faced a fourth-and-15 with only 30 seconds left.

Needing a miracle, Kellogg again connected with Abdullah, who stretched full extension for a 16-yard gain to convert the first down with 21 seconds to play.

Nebraska eventually got just past midfield to the Northwestern 49 with time for one last prayer.

Kellogg scrambled around and rolled to his right as time expired, and he heaved the ball all the way to the goal line. Enunwa tipped the ball in the air amid a cluster of Wildcat defenders, and as fate would have it, it dropped right into the hands of Westerkamp.

The freshman came down with the ball in the end zone and got two feet down, marking the first touchdown catch of his career. The Memorial Stadium crowd of more than 91,000 erupted as the Huskers somehow escaped with a 27-24 victory.

"I didn't even know I could throw it that far. But thank God for Jordan Westerkamp."

-- Ron Kellogg, Nebraska quarterback

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"It sounded like thunder. People were just in awe when I was running in the opposite direction. I didn't even know what happened. I really don't know. I'm still stunned by it myself."

-- Kellogg, on the roar of the crowd after his Hail Mary throw

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"I was happy my family was there and able to see it. I love them, and they're always here to support me. I knew I just had to go right over there to give them all hugs."

-- Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska wide receiver

1996: Nebraska 62, Florida 24

2008: Suh's INT helps Huskers bull over Buffaloes

2000: Big Red invasion takes over Notre Dame Stadium

2005: Husker run past Michigan in Alamo Bowl thriller

1958: Nebraska's greatest upset victory in program history

2006: Purify, Huskers stun No. 24 Texas A&M

2001: 'Black 41 Flash Reverse' goes down in Husker history

1925: Nebraska takes down the Notre Dame Four Horsemen a second time