Headline: Badgers Have a Fun In the Sun Game MVP: Jamar Fletcher----Game ending interception with 1:12 remaining Offensive Player of the Game: Michael Bennett--- Game Winning Touchdown-- and 54 yard kickoff retuen
January 1,1994>>Wisconsin BEATS UCLA in Rose Bowl
January 1,1999>>Wisconsin BEATS UCLA in Rose Bowl
December 29,2000>> Wisconsin BEATS UCLA in Sun Bowl
Sound familiar??? Sure...... UClA can put up the big, sassy pre-game talk.But in each one of these bowl games, they have not been able to " do the walk" with all the talk, and the Wisconsin Badgers have now beaten the UCLA Bruins for a third consecutive time in a post season bowl game.
The Badgers got the game started FAST! It took just four plays to get the first score of the day. Starting at the 20, Bennett had runs of 15 and 10 yards. Two plays later, on third and long, Bollinger conected on a LONG pass to Lee Evans who ran it in 54 yards for the score. Pisetsky added the extra point, and the Badgers had a quick 7-0 lead.
Unfortunatly...... the lead wwould not last long, as the Bruins stormed back to tie the game on their first possession. After the Bruins picked up an initial first down on a third down conversion, they had a first and ten at the 35. Cory Paus found his star receiver Freddie Mitchell open over the middle,and connected with him for a 64 yard touchdown.Following the point after, the game was tied at 7-7, and it was just four minutes old. The Badgers came up empty on their next drive, and had to punt. UCLA took over at the 34. Deshaun Foster perked the drive with a run of 16 yards. Paus connected with his tight end Bryan Fletcher for a gain of 19 yards, but from there the drive stalled out, so the Bruins called in Chris Griffith, who kicked a 31 yard field goal to give UCLA a 10-7 lead as the first quarter drew to a close.
In the early second quarter, the teams exchanged field positions with punts. Jim Sorgi had to come in and relieve Bollinger for a series,as he suffered a twisted ankle. Sorgi started to move the Badgers, but it ended hen he was intercepted by Marcus Anderson on a pass intended for Lee Evans. Nothing transpired from the turn-over for UCLA, and they had to punt. However.... the Badgers too were unable to move the ball, and went three and out on the next series. After the punt by Stemke, the Bruins took over just shy of mid-field, and proceeded to extend the lead. Paus connnected with Mitchell for a 20 yard gain. Then Foster had runs of 11 and 4 yards, before eventually scoring the touchdown on an eight yard run up the middle. Griffith added the extra point,and the Bruins were up 17-7 on the Badgers. The Badger offense did nothing on the next series, and had to punt again. UCLA took overat the five, after a booming punt by Stemke. The Bruins picked up three consecutive first downs, and worked it out to the 47, before time expired in the first half. The Bruins went to the lockeroom in control at 17-7.
The Bruins came out to start the second half very STRONG. They appeared poised to deliver the knock-out punch to Wisconsin. Scott McEwann played quarterback in relief of Paus, and passed to Mitchell for a 13 yard gain to give the Bruins afirst down at the 48. Later McEwan again passed to Mitchell, this time for a gain of 29,to give the Bruins a first and goal at the 9. From there, the Badger defense awakened, and stopped the UCLA attack. Griffith came in and kicked a 25 yard field goal, which extended the UCLA lead to 20-7.
On the kickoff, Michael Bennett jump started the Badger offense, by returning it 54 yards to give Wisconsin a first down at the 48. Bollinger was back in the line-up and helped to spark the charge, by picking up first downs on two third down plays. The Badgers eventually were at the five with a first and goal. On second and goal from the three, Bollinger rolled out right, and passed to Chris Chambers who caught it in the back of the endzone for the touchdown. Pisetsky added the extra point, and it was 20-14.
UCLA had the ball to close out the third, and open the fourth. The drive appeared over, as the Bruins lined up for a 49 yard field goal, it was a FAKE attempt, and JAKE SPRAGUE made the tackle to stop the Bruins short of the first down. The Badgers took over at the 29. Bollinger started the drive by passing to Chambers for a 9 yard gain.Bollinger also picked a HUGE first down on third and five from the ten, when he connected with David Braun, to give Wisconsin a first and goal at the five. On first down, Bollinger handed off to Bennett who dashed in for the touchdown. Pisetsky made the extra point, and the Badgers regained the lead for good at 21-20. UCLA would have several more chances down the stretch to win, but the Badger Defense made the BIG plays. On a third and 11 play, Jake Sprague again, broke through and stopped the Bruins short.Later on a fourth and three at the 40 with just 2:40 remaining, the defense forced McEwan out of the pocket and he threw an incomplete pass. The Badgers then took over, and had a chance to run out the clock. Unfortunatly...... they were unable to pick up a first down, and had to punt. UCLA had another chance for a game winnign field goal try with 1:20 left. That attempt was never allowed to happen, as on first down McEwan passed for Brian Poli-Dixon, and he was intercepted by Fletcher.
All the Badgers had to do, was take a knee two times and the game was over.
FINAL SCORE: WISCONSIN 21
UCLA 20
>>>> The Badgers finish the season with a record of 8-4.
>>>> The Badgers ended the season with a FIVE game
WINNING streak.
>>>> The Victory, was the THIRD straight bowl victory.
>>>> Barry Alvarez now has a bowl record of 6-1
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