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Badgers Season Ends on a Sour Note in Music City Bowl By Barry The Bear |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
barrythebear@webtv.net
Posted Thu Jan 1 13:12:56 2004
A 2003 football season full of disappointments ended quite appropiatly with another disappointment on Wednesday afternoon as Wisconsin suffered a 28-14 loss to Auburn in the Music City Bowl.
The Badgers trailed 14-6 early in the fourth. Jim Sorgi guided his team down field for a touchdown and a successful two point conversion to tie the game at 14-14. The defense then shut down Auburn, to get Sorgi, Evans, and Davis back on the field, but the roof colapsed in on the Badgers from that point on, as Sorgi threw an interception and was also sacked for a loss and fumbled. Both turnovers resulted in Auburn touchdowns and the loss.
Auburn opened the game with some razzle-dazzle trick plays but produced no points. As a matter of fact, both teams showwed a bit of rust in the opening quarter, and simply traded field position with punts resulting in a 0-0 score.
The Badgers opened the scoring in the second quarter, following a 10 play-79 yard drive. Sorgi connected with Charles for a gain of 12. A few plays later, the Badgers were faced with a third and 2 at the Auburn 34, Sorgi ran a bootleg to the left and gained 13 yards for a first down at the 20. Sorgi passed again to Charles for a gain of 11, seting up a first and goal at the nine. The drive stalled out from there and the Badgers settled for a 21 field goal from Mike Allen to give them a 3-0 lead.
The lead would not last long, as Auburn bounced back on their next drive. On the first play,the Badger defense appeared to have stopped Ronnie Brown for no-gain, but he he broke free and gained 30 yards out to the 50. Next, Campbell ran a bootleg to the right and connected with Jonson for a 15 yard gain. On the next play, Williams gained 13 yards down to the 23. Eventually Auburn worked it down to the 10 for a first and goal. On third and goal from the one, Ronnie Brown capped off the drive with a touchdown. The p.a.t. was good, and Auburn took a 7-3 lead.
Wisconsin stormed right back on their next drive. On first dow at the 26, Sorgi faked a handoff to Davis, and threw a completed pass to Brandon Williams for a 30 yard gain. On the next play, Davis would break thew the line and gain 24 yards down to the 20. Unfortunatly..... the drive stalled out again and the Badgers settled for a 35 yard field goal from Allen to make it a 7-6 game at half time.
Wisconsin opened the third quarter on a nice drive, which ended with a punt, after Sorgi was sacked on a third and nine play. Following the punt, Auburn took over at the 20. Campbell and his offense woke up on this drive. Campbell contributed to the drive, by scrambling for a 30 yard gain down to the 30. A few plays later,on third and 7, Campbell ran for 6, setting up a fourth and 1. Williams gained two on the play to keep the drive alive. Several plays later, on a third and 8 at the 18, Campbell gained 11 yards down to the 7 on a draw play . Eventually on fourth and goal from the one, Carnell Williams leaped over the pile and into the end zone for the touchdown. The score capped off a 16 play-80 yard drive, which took 7:16. With 1:32 remaining in the third quarter, Auburn extended their lead to 14-6.
Early in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin rallied back to tie the score and gain the momentum flow of the game. The drive started at the 48. On third and 8, Sorgi found Evans open over the middle for an 18 yard gain down to the 36. Next Sorgi passed to Orr for a huge gain of 22 yards down to the 14. Three plays later, on third and 9 at the 13, Sorgi passed to Evans. Lee jumped over Carlos Rodgers to catch the pass for the TOUCHDOWN. Wisconsin elected to go for two on the conversion. Sorgi tossed a perfect ball to Owen Daniels for the completion to tie the game at 14-14 with 8:52 remaining.
Auburn went three plays and a punt on their next series, giving Wisconsin the ball and the momentum at the 36. Davis gained 10 yards on the first play.
AND THEN........ DISASTER hit Wisconsin. On second and 7, Sorgi tried to pass to Evans. Evans was again working against Carlos Rodgers, only this time, Rogers had the right coverage, as he leaped up and knocked the ball away, then tackled Evans, which allowed Will Heggert to make the interception at the 13 with just over five minutes remaining. Auburn was soon faced with a third and 8 from the 12. Campbell threw a pass to Jerris McIntyre which covered 51 yards down to the 35. Campbell then passed to Daniels for a gain of 28. Eventually..... Ronnie Brown scored the touchdown from 2 yards out with 3:35 remaining to give Auburn the lead at 21-14.
The game all but ended for Wisconsin on the next drive. The Auburn defense came out STRONG. On second and 8, Auburn sent a blitz, Carlos Dansby drilled Sorgi to the ground, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Tommy Jackson at the 8. Two plays later, Williams scored the touchdown from the two,and with the extra point, Auburn took a comanding 28-14 lead with just 1:35 remaining.
Stocco came in at quarter back for Wisconsin on the final few plays to close out this season and give a preview of his abilities as the Badgers quarterback for the 2004 season.
The 2004 season will begin Saturday September 4 against Central Florida at Camp Randall.
With the loss Wisconsin's record for 2003 is 7-6.
Barry Alvarez's Bowl record is now 7-2
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