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Illiois Beats Wisconsin By Barry The Bear |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
barrythebear@webtv.net
Posted Mon Nov 11 21:54:20 2002
Time is quickly running out for the Wisconsin Badgers to secure enough victories to qualify for a bowl bid. After Saturday's 37-20 loss, Wisconsin finds themselves still one victory shy of the necessary seven wins. With a road game at Michigan this next week, and a home season finale against Minnesota in two weeks, its definatly an up hill battle.
The Badgers started the game on Saturday with the ball, but punted after just three plays. Illinois sent a message to Wisconsin on their first possession. Buechler passed to Harris on their first play for a 40 yard gain. The Illini converted on a 46 yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. The Badgers next drive, resulted in a three plays and a punt. After stopping Illinois on their next drive, Wisconsin took over at the 20. Dwayne Smith led the way to a game tying field goal. On successive runs, Smith had gains of 9;12; 6; 10; and 16. Allen eventually tied the game with a 20 yard field goal. However, Illinois bounced right back on the next series to re gain the lead. Buecher passed to Young for 10 yards. Harris then carried for gains of 7 and 6 yards. on first and ten at the 36, Buecher passed to Greg Lewis, who caught the ball on the very back line of the end zone. Replays clearly showed that he was NOT in bounds. But with no replays in college football, the touch down counted, and Illinois led 10-3. On the Badgers next drive, Sorgi passed to Williams for an initial gain of 13. Next Sorgi scrambled and dropped the ball upon contact, and Winston Taylor recovered for the Illini, for a first down at the 35 as the quarter ended.
Early in the second quarter, Ilinois had a first and goal at the 7. Buecher passed to Greg Lewis for the touch down to give Illinois a 17-3 lead. On the next drive for Wisconsin, the results were all too familiar, three plays amd a punt. Illinois regained control at the 27. Buecher passed to Lewis for a gain of 20. On first down at the 47, Buecher passed to Harris, who fumbled. Alex Lewis recovered for the Badgers, and returned it down to the 6. on first down, Dwayne Smith ran it in for the touchdown. Following the p.a.t. from Allen it was 17-10. The Badger defense forced another turnover on the Illini's next drive, as Jim Leonard intercepted a pass from Buecher. Sorgi guided the Badgers down to the 9, before the offense stalled out,and a penalty pushed them back to the 32. Allen came in to kick a 44 yard field goal to draw the Badgers within three points at 17-13. Illinois began to move the ball strong again on their next drive. Harris gained 15 on a run. Buecher connected with Harris for 13 yards on a third and 13 to keep the drive alive. Buecher then passed to Moorehead for 14 yards down to the 36. On the next play, Buecher passed deep and was intercepted in the end zone by B J Tucker. The Badgers started moving the ball and appeared to be in position to narrow the score before the half ended. Williams gained 26 out to the 46. Electing to go for a first down on fourth and three at the 39, Sorgi was sacked back at the 45. Illinois used the clock and the field to their advantage. The Illini found the end zone again. Buecher passed to Young on a first down at the 22, and Young was WIDE OPEN for the touchdown, to give Illinois a 24-13 lead at half time.
Early in the third quarter, Wisconsin missed a great opportunity to narrow the margin. The Badgers forced a fumble by Harris and recovered at the 26. Unable to move the ball after three plays, Allen came in to kick a 42 yard field goal, but he missed it. The Badger defense would force still another turn over on Illinois next drive. On first down at the 48, Jim Leonard intercepted his second pass of the day and returned it 55 yards down to the 10. On fourth and goal from the one, Smith broke through for the touch down and with the extra point, it was now 24 -20. Illinois would add another three points onto the lead before the quarter ended to make it 27-20.
Early in the fourth, Illinois sealed the victory, as Buecher passed to Jason Davis on a third and two from the 12 for the touch down to make it 34-20. Wisconsin saw its day get worse from there as Sorgi was sacked for a loss on the next drive on third and five. Illinois put some icing ono their victory cake on the next drive, as Dockman kicked a 46 yard field goal for the final scoring of the day.
Illnois 37
Wisconsin 20
Wisconsin now 6-5 overall/ 1-5 in Big Ten
>>> Wisconsin has lost a total of 9 of the last 11 Big Ten Home games<<<
Up Next: At Michigan
11am= Sat Nov. 16
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