MANHATTAN, Kan. -Standing in the middle of a half-circle of media members holding tape recorders, microphones and TV cameras late Saturday night, Jake Wesch fidgeted a little bit - clearly nervous from all the attention.
Unlike the starting quarterback or a star running back, Wesch wasn't used to this. You don't get many interview requests when your primary responsibility is to hold the football for the kicker on field goal attempts.
But the sophomore was more than the holder against Kansas State. He was a hero. That's right, a hero.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Wesch isn't exactly a physical specimen. If you didn't know any better, you might mistake him for a water boy or a student trainer. He's certainly not playing to improve his draft status or to someday become a millionaire in the NFL.
But on the very first possession of the game, Nebraska marched down the field only to be stalled at fourth-and-8 on the Wildcats' 17-yard line.
This is where Wesch comes in.
Under the lights and surrounded by 50,723 fans, mostly dressed in purple, Wesch, a walk-on from North Bend, took center stage and stole the show.
Wesch executed the fake field goal attempt to perfection, taking the snap and finding a fellow walk-on, sophomore tight end Hunter Teafatiller, for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Huskers all the points they would need against the Wildcats.
Not even four minutes into the game, that play took the Wildcats - and their fans - out of the game early.
At North Bend High School, Wesch was the typical all-around football player. He played multiple positions for the Tigers, including punter, free safety and quarterback.
He was an all-state kicker during his sophomore and junior years and an all-state punter his senior year.
As a quarterback, he rushed for more than 500 yards and passed for another 500 yards in a season.
But none of that can possibly compare to what Wesch did Saturday.
"It's the biggest stage I've thrown a pass on," he said.
I'm not saying Wesch made some spectacular pass.
But what I love is how a walk-on from small-town Nebraska got his chance and made the most of it.
He goes to practice every day knowing that he won't get the glory or the attention that some of his teammates receive; yet he still devotes hours upon hours to the sport he loves while also juggling classes and membership in a fraternity.
And then when he finally got his chance, he executed. It doesn't get any better than that.
Who knows if Wesch will ever get an opportunity like that again on a football field. But even if he doesn't, he'll always have that moment and that play.
Maybe even better than the play was Wesch's demeanor after the game.
Wesch joked that he and sophomore punter Dan Titchener - who successfully executed a fake punt earlier this season against Southern California - have been pretty successful airing it out.
Instead of acting like a big shot during his time in the spotlight, Wesch showed some class. He was humble and grateful for the chance.
"I'm living every kid's dream," he said. "I just thank God that I had the opportunity to do this."
There were plenty of storylines from Saturday's game: Nebraska's 800th all-time win; the Huskers' second straight road victory; and Nebraska's punishing defense and ground game, to name a few.
But what I'll remember most is how a walk-on got his chance and how he made the most of it.
It doesn't get any better than that.
