| 
Badgers Beat Purdue-Improve to 7-0 By Barry The Bear |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
barrythebear@webtv.net
Posted Sun Oct 17 18:54:58 2004
Offensive Player of the Game: John Stocco= 17 of 32- 211 yards- 1 touchdown
Defensive Player of the Game: Scott Starks= 40 yard game winning fumble return for touchdown
The magical dream season for the Wisconsin Badgers continued on Saturday as they ran
their overall record to a perfect 7-0 with a 20-17 victory over previously unbeaten
Purdue.
The game may have set the table for Barry Alvarez and his Badgers to make their fourth
visit to the Rose Bowl or even realistically to play in the Orange Bowl for the
National Championship. Wisconsin showed championship poise in Saturday's game by
charging back for the victory, after trailing 17-7 with eight minutes remianing in
the game.
The first quarter was primarily a battle for field position by the two teams and saw
no scoring.
Early in the second quarter, the Badger defense led by Scott Starks made a statement
by intercepting a Kyle Orton pass. After that, the next several series by both sides
saw trade-offs of QB sacks and punts. Wisconsin finally found the end-zone with just
under two minutes remaining. The drive started at the 24. Davis gained 34 yards on
a single carry. A few plays later, the Badgers were facing a third and 8 from the 23.
Stocco passed to Brandon Willliams for a gain of 14 for a first and goal at the 9.
Two plays later, Davis scored from six yards out. Allen added the extra point and
Wisconsin took a 7-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Purdue
opened the third quarter with a nice sustained drive, which saw Orton connect on some
key plays. But the Badger defense came up with two sacks to eventually force a punt.
Unfortunatly..... the next Wisconsin drive resulted in three plays and a punt, giving
the ball back to Purdue at the 17.
A few plays into the drive,
Purdue
had a third and five, Orton passed to Charles Davis for a gain of 12. Boyd next ran for
a gain of 12. Next Orton passed to Charles Davis
again for a gain of ten. Wisconsin helped
Purdue,
by getting called for pass interference for a 15 yard penalty.
Purdue
hit the endzone on second and goal from the seven. Orton passed to Charles Davis for the
score and with the extra point, the game was tied 7-7 with 4:35 remaining in the quarter.
The Badgers had possession of the ball to close-out the remainder of the third quarter
and into the opening moments of the fourth. Stocco was intercepted by George Hall, who
returned it 44 yards down to the 36 for
Purdue.
The Badger defense answered the call, allowing
Purdue
just three points on a 35 yard field goal from Ben Jones.
The Badger offense stalled on the next drive and went three and out, giving
Purdue
the ball back at the 35.
Orton and Jones took control of the drive. A few plays into the drive, Orton found
Stubblefield open and passd to him for a 23 yard gain. Orton eventually closed out
the drive, as he scrambled in for the touchdown from seven yards out. Following the
extra point,
Purdue
looked to be in control opening up a 17-7 lead with just over eight minutes remaining.
Stocco and the Badger offense returned following the kick-off and drove back for a score.
Stocco passed to Williams for a gain of 15. Two plays later, the Badgers attempted to go
deep, but Stocco over threw his intended receiver and the pass was dropped by a
Purdue
defender for a possible interception. That play was followed by a pass to Charles for
a 12 yard pick-up. A few plays later, Stocco connected with Williams for a 23 yard gain
down to the 19. Four plays later Stocco on first and goal from the seven, Stocco layed
up a short pass to Booker Stanley who dove over a defender for the touchdown. Alln added
the extra point to make it 17-14 with 5:30 remaining.
Purdue
took over following the kick-off at the 18. All the Boilermakers had to do was make a
couple of first downs and run out the clock. The Boilers were successful at first, and
then the ball bonced the Badgers way. On third and two at the 36, Orton ran a bootleg
trying to run some clock, as he was being tackled, he tumbled over as Starks and Brooks
hit him, the ball came loose, Starks picked it up and raced 40 yards for the touchdown.
However..... Allen's p.a.t. was blocked giving Wisconsin a slim lead of 20-17 with 2:35
remaining.
Orton and Purdue
came back and threatened to win or at the least tie the game to force overtime. Faced
with a fourth and two with 1:15 remaining, Orton kept the drive alive by scrambling
and then passing for a first down. But then came an incomplete pass, followed by a sack
for a three yard loss and another incomplete pass which forced
Purdue
to go for the tying field goal of 42 yards.
Jones came in to attempt the kick. Earlier in the quarter, he connected from 35 yards and
Last year, his field goal in Madison, gave Purdue a last second victory.
But..... he MISSED the kick and Wisconsin held on for a thrilling 20-17 VICTORY.
With the win..... Wisconsin is now 7-0 Overall
4-0 in Big Ten
Next Game: Saturday Oct 23- 11am vs. Northwestern
HOMECOMING
|
