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Badgers BEAT Michigan State= STOP three game slide!! By Barry The Bear |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
barrythebear@webtv.net
Posted Sun Oct 27 12:40:45 2002
Game MVP: Brooks Bollinger= 10 of 18 passing-135 yards and FIVE touchdowns=3 passing=2 by rushing
Offensive Player of the Game: Anthony Davis=29 carries-170 yards ALSO Duane Smith 14 carries=110 yards and 2 Touchdowns
Defensive Player of the Game: Ryan Aiello= 16 tackles
Both Wisconsin and Michigan State came into the game on Saturday night, searching for their first conference victory. A loss by either team , would shatter any aspirations of a post season bowl game. Judging by the Badgers first two drives,one had to wonder if indeed the Badgers would gain a victory in East Lansing. But after a slow, shaky start, Brooks Bollinger, and the Badgers exploded for 28 points in the first half, on their way to an impressive 42-24 victory.
The Badgers received the opening kick, but after three plays.punted to Michigan State. The Spartans too appeared slow and not ready to play at the start, as they immeadiatly fumbled the ball,a nd the Badgers recovered it inside the ten. But a few errant passes and mistakes, cost the Badgers a scoring opportunity and Michigan State regained control. It was again brief, three plays and a punt. The Badgers took over, and this time Bollinger hit pay dirt, leading Wisconsin to their first score of the night. Anthony Davis paved the way as he dashed for a gain of 40 yards. Eventually Bollinger found the end zone as he scored from one yard out. The p.a.t. was good and Wisconsin led 7-0. Again the Spartans failed to generate any productive offense,and they punted right back to the Badgers. Bollinger came back out,and directed the Badgers on a quick scoring drive, going 48 yards in just six plays. For the second time on the young night.Bollinger scored the touchdown himself. On second and goal from the seven, he scrambled and bootlegged to the right for the score, giving Wisconsin a 14-0 lead. The Spartans began to show a little life on their next drive,as they moved out to midfield, before they had to punt. The Badgers took over at the 20. Early in the drive, on third and one at the 29, Bollinger kept it on a sneak and gained 11 out to the 40. Next Bollinger scrambled for a 33 yard gain down to the 27. Eventually Wisconsin made their way down to the three for a first and goal. Bollinger then passed to a wide open Mark Bell in the back of the end zone for the score. Allen added the extra point and it was 21-0 as the first quarter ended.
The Spartans finally got on the board on their first drive of the second quarter, as Rawers connected on a 35 yard field goal to make it 21-3. The two teams traded field position and punts for their next several possessions. However.... Wisconsin would add more points to their lead late in the half. Bollinger started by passing to Darren Charles for a gain of 27. A few plays later, faced with a third and 10 from the 35, Bollinger passed to Johnathan Orr for a gain of 26. With a first and goal at the nine, Bollinger found Brandon Williams in the end zone for the score and Wisconsin increased the lead to 28-3 as the first half ended.
Michigan State came out determined as the third quarter opened. Dowdell led his team on an 84 yard scoring spree. Dowdell passed to Knott for a gain of 23.Then he scrambled for 18 yards. Eventually he passed to Levitt for the score and with the p.a.t. it was now 28-10. But the Badgers remembered what happened to them two weeks prior in Indiana,and were not going to let that happen again. Bollinger led them on another scoring drive. Anthony Davis gained multiple yards on a few caries. Dwayne Smith finished it off by racing to the end zone on a 34 yard run. Allen added the p.a.t. and it was 35-10. Michigan State looked primed to strike back on their next drive which started at the 25. Dowdell worked them down for a first and goal at the 8. On fourth and goal, he threw into the end zone,and it was intercepted by Jim Leonard. Unable to move the ball, Wisconsin kicked right back to Michigan State after just three plays. The Spartans took over at the 40, and scored fast. Dowdell passed to Eric Knott for a gain of 35. On first down at the 26, Dowdell passed to Charles Rogers for a touchdown. Following the p.a.t. it was now 35-17 as the third quarter ended.
The Badgers started the fourth quarter with the ball, following the kick, and then began to seal the victory, as they went on a scoring drive, which used up the first seven minutes of the quarter. Davis began by gaining ten yards. Then a few plays later, on third and ten, Bollinger passed to Darren Charles for a gain of 19 to keep the drive alive. Next on first and ten at the 23, Bollinger passed to Orr for the touchdown. Allen added the p.a.t. to make it 42-17. Michigan State would later add another score as back-up quarter back Alexander threw for a 44 yard touchdown to make it 42-24. But that was all they would get, as Wisconsin gets the victory!
FINAL SCORE
WISCONSIN 42
Mich. State 24
Wisconsin now 6-3 overall/ 1-3 in Big Ten
UP NEXT: at Iowa
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