Posted Saturday, November 21, 2009 --- 6:20 p.m.

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) -- Mike Kafka hit Andrew Brewer with two first-half touchdown passes and Brian Peters and Jordan Mabin made key defensive plays late as Northwestern beat No. 17 Wisconsin 33-31 on Saturday.

Northwestern (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) improved its bowl positioning with its third straight victory. Fans swarmed Ryan Field after the victory, which wasn't clinched until Mabin intercepted Scott Tolzien with 42 seconds to go.

Stefan Demos kicked four field goals for the Wildcats.

Northwestern led 27-14 at the half behind Kafka, who finished with 326 yards, and Brewer, a former quarterback.

But Wisconsin's David Gilreath returned a punt 68 yards for a third-quarter TD to get the Badgers (8-3, 5-3) back in the game.

Tolzien found Garrett Graham wide open in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard pass with 10:45 to go, pulling the Badgers within 33-31 and setting the stage for a wild finish.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.