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Badgers BOWL over Minnesota for a Victory By Barry The Bear |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
barrythebear@webtv.net
Posted Sun Nov 24 14:34:59 2002
Game MVP: Anthony Davis=45 carries-301 yards=FIVE Touchdowns
Offensive Player of the Game: Brooks Bollinger=6 of 12 passing 134 yards-1 touchdown. PLUS 112 yards rushing=
Defensive Player of the Game: Jim Leonard= 2 interceptions
The Wisconsin Badgers entered the game on Saturday still in need of a seventh victory to secure a bowl birth. Well... the scenario was like baseball. Two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and the winning run on third. Anthony Davis and Brooks Bollinger stepped up to the plate and hit home runs!!! Davis played his best game of the year, as he ran all over the Gopher defense for FIVE touchdowns including a beautiful 71 yard run in the fourth quarter which drove the final nail in the Gophers coffin. Bollinger saved his best for the last game also, as he showed his Senior leadership and guided the offense to the 49 points, the highlight of which was a pass to Johnathan Orr for a 36 yard gain, which set up the go-ahead touchdown and lead Wisconsin to the victory.
The Gophers put the first points on the board for the day, midway through the opening quarter. The Gopher defense had stopped Wisconsin, and forced a punt. R.J. Morse attempted to punt, but it was blocked by Jermaine Mays. The Gophers gained control at the 30. The Gophers failed to move the ball, so Dan Nystrom came in and icked a 39 yard field goal giving Minnesota the 3-0 lead. The Badgers came back on the next drive, and took the lead. Bollinger passed to Konz for an initial gain of 15. A few plays later, on second and eight from the 47, Bollinger scrambled for a gain of 15 down to the 29. On first down Davis gained 11 yards down to the 18. Two plays later, on third and three from the 12, Bollinger gained eight down to the four. On first and goal, Davis easily scored over the right side. Allen added the p.a.t. and Wisconsin led 7-3 with just a bit over three minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
The Gophers next drive started started at the 35,as the kick-off went out of bounds. Abdul Kalik kept the drive alive,as he coverted several times for gains of multiple yards including a pass to Hosack for 24 yards. As the first quarter ended, Kalik was sacked for a five yard loss. Two plays in the second quarter, Nystrom kicked a 25 yard field goal to narrow the Badger lead to 7-6. The Badger's stormed right back on their next drive. Davis began to open up the running game, as he ran two straight times for gains of nine yards. Bollinger then next ran for a ten yard gain, giving Wisconsin a first down at the 37. Davis then ran for 13 yards down to the 24. Eventually, the Badgers worked it down to the 13. A few plays later, Bollinger was faced with a third and nine at the 12.He sent three recivers down field, He had plenty of protection and time to study the down field patterns, eventually Bollinger passed to Darren Charles who was WIDE OPEN in the middle of the end zone and caught it forthe touchdown. Allen added the p.a.t. and Wisconsin increased the lead to 14-6. But, this victory was not going to come easy for the Badgers, as Minnesota came bak to tie the game on their next possession. Again, Kalik eluded Badger defenders and converted several plays. On a third and four, he passed over the line to Utecht for a first down. Kalik also ran for a gain of seven, then passed tpo Patterson for a gain of 38 down to the 25. Jackson then ran for 11, givng the Gophers a first down at the 14. The drive then appeared dead, as Minnesota faced a third and 17 from the 20. Kalik passed to Utecht, who drew a pass interference penalty against Scott Starks, which then gave them a first down at the five. On third and goal from the one, Jackson dove over the top of the ine for the score. Minnesota elected to go for two on the conversion. Danny Upchurch took a pitch from Kalik, and then passed to Ben Utecht for the conversion, which tied the game at 14-14 with just under four minutes left in the first half.Wisconsin showed the Gophers that simply wanted the victory more, as they stormed back to score another touch down before the half ended. After the Gophers kicked, the Badgers started at the 42, thanks to a penalty against Minnesota. Davis gained 17 yards down to the 26 on first down. A few plays later Davis had carries for gains of 3 and 9 yards. Eventually, Wisconsin had a first and goal at the 2. Three plays resulted into a fourth and goal at the 1. on fourth and goal, Davis plowed through and scored with just 3 seconds left. The drive was a nice 12 play-58 yards. The Badgers took the lead and the momentum into the locker room with a 21-14 lead.
Minnesota came out to start the second half and put ten quick points on the boardto re-gain the lead at 24-21.First Jackson capped off the opening drive of the half, as he took the handoff from Kalik and dashed into the endzone from seven yards out. The key play on the drive, was Kalik passing to Antoine Burns for a huge 45 yard gain down to the 19. After Wisconsin failed to move the ball on their first drive, and Morse was foced to run the ball on a muffed snap for his punt, the Gophers took over at the 25. Again Kalik conerted on a third and long. On third and 13, Kalik ran for 15 down to the 14. The drive stalled from there, and eventually Nystrom kicked a 30 yard field goal maiking it 24-21 with 8:15 left. Wisconsin would manage to regain the lead, late in the third quarter with under a minute remaining. Following a punt by the Gophers, the Badgers had the ball at the 38. Just three plays into the drive, Davis broke open a run for 26 yards and a touchdown. As the third quarter ended, Wisconsin regained the lead at 28-24.
Early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota would score their final points of the day. Kalik completed a pass for 45 yards to Ton Patterson down to the three. Wisconsin was penalized for roughing the passer, which gave the Gophers a first down at the 2. On second and goal, Kalik passed to Tom Tapeh for the score. Nystrom added the point after and Minnesota led again 31-28. The Badgers regained control of the game on their next drive. on first down at the 39, Bollinger passed to Orr for a gain of 36 down to the 25. On second and eight from the 23, Bollinger passed to Chad Kuhns for 20, down to the three. Davis then gained two down to the 1. Bolliger capped it off as he sneaked it over from the one. Allen added the p.a.t. and it was now 35-31. The Badger defense shut out Minnesota on the their next drive, and took over following a punt at the 25. Davis gained yardage of 8 and 15 yards on consecutive runs. Bollinger then gained 12 yards down to the 37. A pass interference penalty on Minnesota a few plays later, gave Wisconsin a first down at the 10. On third and goal from the 2,Davis ploed into the end zone for his fourth touch down of the day and a 42-31 lead.
The Gophers fought back strong, and looked to rally on their next drive. On first down at the 24, Kalik passed into the end zone, and his pass was intercepted by Jim Leonard, giving the Badgers the ball back at the 20 with 2:27 remaining. On third and 1 from the 29, Davis burst through the line and was clear and ran 71 yards untouched for his FIFTH TOUCH DOWN of the day and a 49-31 lead. the Gophers could only run out the clock, and watch as the Badgers ran over to their bench and re-claimed the PAUL BUNYAN AXE thanks to the FINAL SCORE:
Badgers 49
Gophers 31
Badgers now 7-6 overall and 2-6 in Big Ten.
!!!!! Bowl Eligible !!!!!
>>>> As of this date, it appears that Wisconsin will receive an invitation to play December 28th in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. <<<<<
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