Northwestern still hasn't won a postseason football game since the 1949 Rose Bowl, despite the Wildcats making a valiant attempt in their seventh try, with a dramatic, come-from-behind effort against Auburn in the first game of 2010.

And it's certainly not because of Sidney Stewart.

The junior wide receiver from Farmington Hills Harrison had 10 catches for 97 yards for Northwestern in Friday's Outback Bowl, including an 18-yard touchdown with 1:15 left that allowed the Wildcats to send the game to overtime, tied at 35-35.

The Wildcats (8-5) lost in overtime, attempting a fake field goal to win the game, after kicker Stefan Demos was injured just plays earlier, roughed as he attempted a potentially game-tying field goal to send it into a second overtime.

Stewart had 17 career catches entering the 2009 season, and added 32 catches for 373 yards and a score in seven regular-season starts as a junior. He made almost as many big plays in Friday's bowl game alone, registering half of his catches on Northwestern's two scoring drives to tie it, including one of three fourth-down conversions on the first drive. Quarterback Mike Kafka threw 78 passes in the game, completing 47 for 533 yards — all school records — but had five interceptions.