Headline: Badgers Bowl Over The Hoosiers Game MVP: Quarter Back Jim Sorgi>>16 of 21 passing for 207 yards and 3 Touchdowns Offensive Player of the Game: Michael Bennett>>>22 carries 112 yards- 1 Touchdown
When the Badgers lost in overtime to Purdue three weeks ago and saw their overall record drop to 4-4 things looked bleak and it was hard to imagine them winning out the final four games of the season to finish at 8-4 and be able to once again go BOWLING this holiday season. Saturday afternoon the Badgers recorded their third straight victory by posting a 43-22 win over Indiana. The Badgers now are at 7-4 overall and at 4-4 in the Big Ten.
With one game remaining in Hawaii in two weeks, the Badgers assured themselves of receiving another Bowl invitation in a few weeks with this latest victory.
It didn't appear for the first half however that the Badgers would get the needed seventh win against Indiana.
The Hoosiers took the early lead at 3-0 in the first quarter on a 30 yard field goal by Andy Payne. The Badger offense suffered a minor set-back in the quarter, Bollinger ran loose for a six yard gain, but at the end of the play, he suffered an ankle sprain and gave way to Jim Sorgi. Unfortunatly...... the offense and Sorgi would struggle for several series and fail to generate any points or momentum.
The Hoosiers extended the lead to 6-0 early in the second quarter on a 50 yard field goal by Payne.This after what looked to be a promising drive, which included the elusive Randel El passing for a 19 yard gain on a third and four. Sorgi got the Wisconsin offense on the board with just 15 seconds remaining in the half. Sorgi and Lee Evans were a dynamyte 1-2 punch on the drive. Sorgi hit Evans for gains of 13 and 35 yards, and highlighted the drive with a beautiful 26 yard Touchdown pass, which enabled the Badgers to go into halftime leading 7-6.
The Badgers opened the second half with a 10 play-80 yard drive which culminated in a Touchdown. Michael Bennett opened up with run gains of 9 and 6 yards. Faced with a third and 10 at the 35....Sorgi dropped back to pass, and noticed a hole in the middle..... he charged up field and gained 47 yards down to the 18. An offside penalty on Indiana eventually gave the Badgers a first and goal at the six. On third and goal...Sorgi found John Sigmund in the endzone for the Touchdown. Pisetsky added the point-after to make it 14-6.
The Hoosiers would come back to draw to within 2 points later in the quarter behind Randell El. Faced with a third and six at the 18... Randall El completed a 25 yard pass. On the very next play, he found open ground and raced 57 yards for a touchdown. The Hoosiers elected to go for 2 points to tie the core, but it failed and the Badgers held a 14-12 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Badgers came storming back on the very next possession to extend the lead. The drive started at the 22.... on first and ten at the 46..... Sorgi passed to Chambers for a HUGE gain of 46 yards to give Wisconsin a first and goal at the 8. The next playgained three yards to set up a second and goal at the 5. Sorgi rolled out to the left and passed to Dague Retzlaff for the Touchdown.
Pisetsky added the P.A.T. and the Badgers led 21-12 as the third quarter drew to a close.
The Hoosiers closed out the third quarter with a drive, that went into the early fourth quarter. Wendell Bryant SACKED Randall El for a six yard loss, which forced the Hoosiers to settle for a 24 yard field goal to make it 21-15 with 13:00 remaining. The Badgers responded promptly and came right back down the field with a dominating 12 play--- 72 yard rive that culminated as Matt Unertl plowed through the line from two yards out for the Touchdown. The Badgers opted for the two point conversion and made it GOOD as Sorgi passed to Sigmund made it 29-15.
The Badger defense helped to seal the victory on the Hoosiers next possession. Faced with a fourth and 19 at about mid-field, Randall El threw up a desperation pass, which Jamar Fltcher INTERCEPTED at the 10, and then returned it 87 yards down to the 3 before he was finally knocked out of bounds. On first down..... Michael Benett scored the Touchdown.Pisetsky added the point after to make it 36-15.
Unfortunatly......... the Wisconsin defense felt a victory was at hand and eased up on the following series.
The defense also was penalized four times on the drive, which ended as Brian Lewis scored on a 9 yard run to make it 36-22.
The Hoosiers attempted an on-side kick to get back possession, but it failed. Lee Evans batted the bobbling kicked ball and fielded it.....then ran 38 yards for the TOUCHDOWN. Pisetsky added the extra point to make the
FINAL SCORE: Wisconsin 43
Indiana 22
Badgers conclude Big Ten play with a 4-4 record
Badgers are now 7-4 Overall.... and Bowl Eligible
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