| 
Badgers Upset Bid Falls Short By BigE |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
BigE@idatasports.com
Posted Tue Oct 22 22:11:11 2002
The Badgers dropped to 0-3 in the Big Ten after losing a tough battle against the
forth-ranked Buckeyes by a score of 19-14. Although this loss was a tough one to swallow,
the Badgers might have played their best game all season. The Buckeyes are once again a
football powerhouse, and after a few down years, they are back to an elite level. That
meant bad news for a Badger team that was looking to put an end to their two game
losing streak.
The Buckeyes got on the board quickly with a short three play drive that covered 75
yards, finishing with 47-yard touchdown pass from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins
to make it 7-0. On this drive the Badgers put 8 men in the box to try and stop freshmen
sensation Maurice Clarett. But the
Heisman candidate still ripped off a 25-yard run
in the first series, on his way to 133 yards on 30 carries. That was merely a below
average day for Clarett, which is a credit to the Badgers run defense.
The Badgers answered with a quick drive of their own, going 66 yards on three plays.
This drive was all Anthony Davis, as the sophomore ripped off a 20-yard run on the
first play of the drive. Then on second and 5 from the Ohio State 41, Davis broke
free off right tackle, and scampered in to make it 7-7.
The Badgers defense was strong for the rest of the half, as they limited the Buckeyes
to a couple of field goals to make it 13-7.
The Badgers lost quarterback Brooks Bollinger to injury midway through the second
quarter, and Jim Sorgi took over the controls. With about 3:30 left in the half,
the Badgers drove 79 yards in seven plays, finishing with a 42-yard strike from Sorgi
to freshman Jonathan Orr to make it 14-13 at intermission.
The defense was stellar in the third quarter as they held the Buckeyes scoreless, but
the offense also failed to get on track. With the score at 14-13 going into the fourth
quarter, the Badgers looked like they could pull the upset. But the Buckeyes pounded the
ball right down the throat of the defense, grinding out 88 yards on nine plays,
finishing with a 3-yard pass from Krenzel to Ben Hartsock to make it 19-14 after the
failed two-point attempt.
The fourth quarter showed why the Buckeyes are in the hunt for a National Championship.
The Buckeyes had their backs against the wall, on the road against a tough conference
foe, and pulled it together like quality teams do. Clarett was unstoppable in the fourth
quarter, gashing the Badgers for 63 yards in that quarter alone.
There was still plenty of time for the Badgers to catch the Buckeyes, but just like the
third quarter the Badgers offense was stifled by Ohio State.
Despite starting the season 5-0 and then dropping the next three, I really think this
was the best the Badgers played all year. The defense is playing better each week, and
although the offense struggled against the Buckeyes, they were still able to gain nearly
400 yards against a top-flight opponent.
The Badgers still need two more victories to become bowl-eligible, and the road won't
get much easier. This week they go into East Lansing to take on the Michigan State
Spartans, a team that has struggled to a 3-4 record. The Badgers will need to come with
the same intensity they showed against the Buckeyes, for them to beat the Spartans.
If they do, the Spartans will be no match for the Big Red Machine!
|
