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MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Zak Kustok's 45-yard "Hail Mary" pass to Sam Simmons as time expired gave Northwestern a 41-35 comeback victory over Minnesota that kept its Big Ten Conference championship hopes alive. On the final play of regulation, Kustok heaved a long pass into a crowd in the end zone. The ball deflected sharply to Simmons, who tucked his feet just inside the goal line before stepping onto the field. The miracle touchdown stunned the Metrodome crowd and completed the Wildcats' rally from a 21-point deficit over the final 17:05. The Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten), coming off a 41-28 loss to Purdue, fell behind 35-14 before turning things around when the Golden Gophers went to a prevent defense that Kustok was able to pick apart. Damien Anderson churned out 230 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries and Kustok carried 29 times for 90 yards. Anderson has 16 total TDs this season, including 14 on the ground, which gives him one more total score than Northwestern had as a team last season. Simmons, who caught both of Kustok's TD passes in the late-game rally, had five catches for 91 yards. Simmons, who suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in 1999, sat out last week's loss to Purdue. Kustok completed 18-of-32 passes for 209 yards as the Wildcats outgained the Golden Gophers, 543-436. Jack Brewer had 120 yards on six receptions and Elvin Jones had 102 on six for Minnesota (5-4, 3-3). Travis Cole, who suffered just his second loss as a starter, was 18-of-33 for 251 yards with one interception. Freshman Asad Abdul-Khaliq scored his second touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run, giving Minnesota a 35-14 lead with 5:34 to play in the third quarter. But the Golden Gophers did not get in the end zone again and could not stop the Wildcats. Simmons caught a 13-yard pass from Kustok, capping a 13-play, 77-yard drive with 2:08 left in the third quarter and cutting the deficit to 14 points. The Wildcats marched 67 yards in 10 plays and just 3:11 and Kustok scooted into the end zone from the 3, making it 35-28 with 12:35 to go. Kustok ran in from the 12, finishing off a 12-play, 73-yard march with 1:24 to go and tying the score.
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