Headline: Badgers Get Axed Out For Final Game Game MVP: Minnesota Quarterback- Asad Abdul Kahliq: 17 of 25 for 265 yds-3 Touchdowns plus 1 rushing Touchdown Offensive Player of the Game: Anthony Davis-29 carries-208 yards-3 Touchdowns
A season of hard knocks and bad breaks came to a crashing halt Saturday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, as Minnesota beat the Wisconsin Badgers for the first time in six years by the score of 42-31. As the final seconds ticked away, Minnesota players began storming the Badger sideline to claim their possession of the coveted Paul Bunyan Axe. As they joyfully took a victory lap around the Metrodome field,the Badger players slowly headed to the locker room and began pondering upon a season that saw them lose more games than win. The Badgers finished the season at 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. For the first time in five years, there would be no bowl game. The Badgers would be home for the holidays. They wound up losing four of the last five games. This highly touted Senior team, which was one of Barry Alvarez's most successful classes came up short. This was the same group of Seniors who led Wisconsin to back to back Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl victories, with Sun and Outback bowl victories also to their credit.
The Badgers got on the board first moving 80 yards in twelve plays. As usuual Anthony Davis led the charge. On second and ten at the 48, Davis gained twenty yards. He eventually scored from one yard out to give Wisconsin the early 7-0 lead. The Gophers came back strong to tie the game on the next drive in just four plays. Faced with a third and six, Asad Abdul Khaliq passed for a 17 yard gain to his wide receiver Ron Johnson. On the next play, he completed a 58 yard touchdown pass to Dan Utecht who blew away Joey Boese on the pattern. Nystrom added the extra point to tie the game. The Badgers would find the endzone again before the quarter concluded, Bollinger capped off a seven play-63 yard drive as he ran a bootleg and scored from the five.Neuser added the extra point and Wisconsin led 14-7.
The Gophers would come back to tie the game at 14-14 early in the second quarter, on a long, dominating drive, which started late in the first quarter. As has been the Badgers problem all season.... the inability to stop their opponent on third and long, happened here. On third and three, Tom Tapeh burst threw the line and ran 19 yards for the touchdown. The Gophers would then later come right back to take the lead. Again, it was the Badgers inability to stop an offense on third and long. On third and eight, Abdul Khaliq rolled to the right and completed an 18 yard pass to his receiver, who as many other Badger opponents had done this year, beat out Echols to the ball. The drive concluded when Khaliq completed a 39 yard pass for the touchdown. Following the extra point, Minnesota led 21-14. Wisconsin would come back on their next series to once again tie the game. Faced with a third and one at the 31, Bollinger handed off to Davis, who burst away and rushed 69 yards for the touchdown. HOWEVER..... there was some controversy on the play, as Davis had the ball knocked loose from behind him at about the four and it rolled out through the back of the endzone. The official signaled a touchdown for Wisconsin. Later........ tv replays clearly showed Davis had not crossed the goal line. Had that been the case, Wisconsin would not have scored and Minnesota would have the ball at the 20. But with out any replay in college football, the game was ties at 21-21. The Gophers would strike back before halftime to regain the lead at 28-21.
Wisconsin struck first in the third quarter. Held back on kick and punt returns for most of the year, Nick Davis finally broke one out. Davis took the punt and returned it 67 yards down to the four. Anthony Davis scored from the one with 8:30 remaining in the quarter. After Neuser added the point after it was 28-28. Later in the quarter, the Badgers would reclaim the lead for the final time, following a Mike Echols interception. The drive resulted in a 31 yard field goal from Neuser to make it 31-28.
The Gophers would eventually take control of the rest of the game as the quarter drew to a close. Again... Minnesota converted on third down. It was third and ten, at the 44, Khaliq passed again to Johnson, who again beat Echols and then went in for the touchdown. Nystrom added the extra point and it was 35-31 in favor of Minnesota as the third quarter ended.
The Gophers iced the game, and began etching their winning score on the Paul Bunyan axe midway through the fourth quarter. It was another LONG and DOMINATING drive, which ate up too much time for Wisconsin, who had to use all their time-outs on the drive. A 16 play 91 yard drive in 7:35. At one point, it appeared the Badgers had stopped Minnesota short and were forcing them to kick a field goal, on fourth and three at the 33. However.... the holder fielded a low snap and dished the ball to a receiver, who gained five yards for a fisrt down. Eventually... on another third down play.... third and one from the three, Khaliq scored the touchdown. Following the extra point it was 42-31. The Badgers would get one final shot when they got the ball back with 3:42 remaining. Bollinger showed tremendous poise as he guided the Badgers down field with no timeouts. Eventually, he got Wisconsin down to the seven. Unfortunatly.... on first and goal, Bollinger was intercepted by Jimmy Henry. From there. all the Gophers had to do was take a knee three times to close out the game with a 42-31 victory.
The 5-7 record for Barry Alvarez and his Badgers in 2001, is the worst mark since his first team in 1991 went 1-10.
SO..... thats it. All thats left now is to rebuild and begin looking forward to the 2002 season of Wisconsin Badger Football.
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