I know it was only the first game of 2010, but how can you ask for anything more from a game that included the following:
*A quarterback named Kafka.
*NINE turnovers, among them…
-a interception thrown by Kafka in the endzone that was returned 100 yards for an Auburn score
-two interceptions thrown by Auburn’s back-up quarterback, one on a trick play
-another Northwestern interception in the endzone
-a fumble by Auburn’s Ben Tate shortly after a failed onside kick attempt by Northwestern, which gave them the ball back with enough time left to tie the game
-ANOTHER fumble by Auburn on the kickoff after Northwestern tied the game, which came on a great kick return that would have set up the Tigers to attempt a game-winning field goal had they held onto the ball
*Three other interceptions by Kafka, for a total of 5. But that only made up about one-sixth of his 31 incompletions. Which in turn made up less than half of his SEVENTY EIGHT pass attempts. (Before this game Kafka averaged 34 passes a game, so this was like playing more than two full games for him.)
*Ben Tate slamming the ball over the uprights to celebrate a touchdown that put Auburn up by two scores with seven minutes to play.
*Northwestern going for it on fourth down THREE TIMES on the ensuing drive that finished with a touchdown to put them down one score.
*Except, the extra point was blocked.
*After the Ben Tate fumble, Kafka throwing a touchdown pass with a little over a minute left, giving him five touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing) to go along with his five picks.
*Northwestern needing a two-point conversion to tie the game and getting it by executing a trick play, a reverse pass by the backup quarterback, just to show Auburn how it’s done.
*Northwestern’s kicker missing what would have been a game-winning field goal as time expired, to go along with his other miss earlier.
Auburn went first in overtime and was held to a field goal. Northwestern took over, and things really got good.
*Northwestern completes a pass to set up 3rd & 1 at the Auburn 16. But the ball is fumbled and knocked back about ten yards. BUT an Auburn player is penalized for batting the ball, giving Northwestern a 1st & goal at the 6. BUT the play is reviewed. The commentators and I think it will be ruled incomplete, erasing the penalty. Instead, it’s ruled that the player is down, which still negates the penalty and gives them 3rd & 1.
*Two plays later, Kafka is sacked and loses the football, which is recovered by Auburn, who storms the field in victory. BUT it looks like Kafka threw the ball into the ground, which would be intentional grounding but not a fumble. After review, it’s clear Kafka was down before the ball came out, so it’s a sack for a 14 yard loss.
*Two plays later, Northwestern attempts a game-tying field goal. It bounces off the right upright. Auburn storms the field to celebrate victory for a second time. BUT there’s a penalty for roughing the kicker, giving Northwestern a first down at 9. BUT the kicker is legitimately hurt, leaving them with a back-up kicker who’s not even officially on the roster.
*Four plays later, Northwestern has 4th & goal from the 5. But instead of attempting a game-tying field goal, they run a sort-of fake field goal and are tackled at the 2. Auburn storms the field to celebrate for a third time, and this time it holds.
*And to top things off, as an ESPN reporter asks Auburn coach Gene Chizik “Have you ever seen anything like that before?” they are both doused with Gatorade.
If there’s even one more game in 2010 as awesome as this, I’ll be pleased.