Headline: Michigan Bounces Badgers Bowl Hopes Offensive Player of the Game: Anthony Davis: 27 carries for 103 yards-1 Touchdown
In a matter of moments on Saturday afternoon at Camp Randall, emotions from players and fans went from an extreme high, to an ultimate low. The game was tied at 17 with just under two minutes remaining. The Badgers lined up for a 36 yard field goal attempt by Mark Neuser. Michigan was out of time-outs, so if he made it, the Badgers would have won. Instead.... he missed it, and Michigan got the ball back at the 20 with 1:30 remaining. The Wolverines were unable to move the ball, so Michigan elected to punt, and go to overtime. This move at the time, was fine with the Badgers, so they let Michigan punt. Hayden Epstein punted from the 45, as the ball flew down field, Badger Freshmen Brett Bell, lost composure and tried to throw a block, the ball came down and hit him...... Brandon Williams for Michigan quickly scooped up what was now a loose ball and recovered it at the 13. Epstein came back out, and kicked the game winning 31 yard field goal for Michigan.
The game started out well for the Badgers, who looked poised for the upset victory right from the start following their bye week. After Michigan deferred the ball to half two, Wisconsin came out on offense first, and oved right down the field for a score. Helped out from a big thirty yard gain from Anthony Davis, Wisconsin drove 80 yards in twelve plays and scored a touchdown,on a Bollinger two yard scramble. Neuser added the p.a.t. and Wisconsin had the early 7-0 lead. But..... the mighty Michigan Wolverines would storm back before the quarter ended on a ten play- forty yard drive to tie the game on a short pass from Navarre to Chris Perry.
In the second quarter, Michigan was on a drive, but they were stopped when Navarre was intercepted by Scott Starks. The Badgers took over at the 30. Bollinger initially gained 15 yards on a scramble, but after that the drive was stalled, and Wisconsin had to punt. As R.J.Morse punted, it was blocked.... Marlin Jackson picked up the loose ball for Michigan, and returned it 43 yards for the touchdown. Epstein added the p.a.t. and Michigan led 14-7.Neither team produced any significant offense the remainder of the half.Michigan attempted a 46 yard field goal as time expired, but it was wide right.
In the third quarter.... the teams traded punts on each of their first possessions. Wisconsin began their second drive of the quarter at the 14. After failing to pick up a first down, they attempted to punt on fourth down. Again.... Morse's punt was blocked, this time by Marquis Walker. Michigan recovered, and had a first and goal at the five. A holding penalty on the Wolverines cancelled a touchdown, so they settled for a 25 yard field goal by Epstein to make it 17-7 with 8:25 left. The Badgers came back strong on the next drive. Bollinger passed to Anelli for a gain of 22. Anthony Davis gained yards of 8 and 11 yards. Eventually Davis swept around the right end for a ten yard touchdown with 5:02 left. Neuser kicked the extra point and it was now 17-14. on the next Michigan series, the Badgers forced a sack and a fumble, which they recovered at the 26. Bollinger hit Davis for a gain of 9, but that all the Badgers could produce, so they settled for a 46 yard field goal from Neuser to tie the game at 17 with 1:58 left.
The Badger defense dominated play when needed in the fourth quarter, helping to set the table for the offense.
And the offense had chances to win the game. Mistakes however, cost them. Two consecutive holding penalties stalled a drive, until Bollinger hit Charles for a 15 yard gain. Bollinger also hit Anelli on a key third down, and also found Evans for a gain of 17. Davis ran for 15 to give Wisconsin a first down at the 15. From there Bollinger was sacked, and the Badgers loked to Anelli to win it on a 36 yard field goal, but he missed and it stayed tied. Michigan took over at the 20, with 1:30 remaining and no time-outs. The drive stalled, and the Wolverines elected to punt, and force overtime. Epstein punted from the 47. Instead of rushing for the blocked ball.... Freshman player Brett Bell went to throw a block down field.... the ball hit and bounced off him, Brandon Williams recovered it for the Wolverines at the 13 with :14 left. Epstein came right back out, and booted the game winning 31 yard field goal which gave Michgan the victory 20-17.
With the loss, Wisconsin is now 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten. With just one game remaining, the Badgers WILL NOT qualify for a Bowl game this year. With a victory next week at Minnesota, Wisconsin could finish at .500 both overall ad in conference play.
The game will also carry significance, as the Badgers will attempt to retain possesion of the PAUL BUNYAN AXE.
Kick-off from the Metrodome is 11:00am.
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