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Badgers Tame Nittany Lions By Barry The Bear |
IdataSports.com Sports Staff Writer
barrythebear@webtv.net
Posted Tue Oct 7 19:06:15 2003
Game MVP: Booker Stanley= 24carries= 119 yards= 1 touchdown
Following their upset loss to UNLV a few weeks ago, the Badgers knew they had to fix soem problems and win some games, if they wanted the Ohio State to be meaningful. Well...... the big red machine still has a few minor adjustments to be tuned, but following Saturday's 30-23 victory over Penn State, the Badgers are primed for their first major test of the season Saturday night, when Ohio State comes to town.
The teams opened play in the game with an exchange of early fumbles. Penn State initially fumbled and the Badgers recovered. However... on the first play, Anthony Davis fumbled at the 24 and Penn State recovered. The Wisconsin defense took charge,and held Penn State to a 35 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. The Badgers would strike back and claim their first lead of the game before the first quarter ended. Jim Sorgi directed a seven play-80 yard drive for the score. On the drive, he passed to Willims for a gain of 19,which got the Badgers down to the 37. A few plays later, Sorgi fired a strike off to Lee Evans off a fake hand-off to Davis for the touch down and a 7-3 lead.
Penn State closed out the first quarter, and opened the second quarter with a long drive of 75 yards in 15 plays using a total of 7:30. At one point, the drive seemed to have been stopped on a fourth and 18, but Alex Lewis was called for roughing the kicker, which gave Penn State an automatic first down at the 33. Eventually on thirdand goal from the 1, Sean McHugh plowed through for the touch down. The extra point was mishandeled and missed giving Penn State a 9-7 advantage. On the following kick-off, Williams returned it 55 yards, giving Wisconsin a first down at the 45. Unfortunatly, the drive only produced a 45 yard field goal from Allen, giving Wisconsin the lead back at 10-9. Wisconsin would increase the lead very late in the first half. After Penn State fumbled a punt return,the Badgers had a first down at the 24. Sorgi would then get sacked for an 8 loss on third down, forcing Wisconsin to call a time-out with less than 20 seconds left. Following the time-out, Sorgi, completed a 20 yard pass to Williams for the touch down. Allen added the extra point, and Wisconsin took a 17-9 lead into the locker room.
In the third quarter, both teams traded punts on their first two possessions. Following Penn State's second punt,Jim Leonard received it and returned it 65 yards for the touch down and a 23-9 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. Penn State struck back fast on the very next drive. On a first and 15 from the 27, Robinson lofted a pass which Matt Krenshik caught at midfield and out ran the Wisconsin defenders for a 73 yard touch down. Following the extra point, it was now a 23-16 Wisconsin lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Badgers closed out the third quarter, and opened the first 5:30 of the fourth quarter with a dominating scoring drive. All together it was an 80 yard-13 play drive.... ALL RUNS, led by Matt Bernstein converting on two third down plays with Booker Stanley scoring from six yards out and with the extra point giving Wisconsin a 30-16 lead. Penn State answered the scoring drive once again with one of their own. Robinson worked the no-huddle offense and directed a four play-70 yard drive, capping it off with a 6 yard touch down pass to Gerold Smith allowing Penn State to make it a tight score of 30-23 with 8;35 remaining. Penn State's drive ended with no points as a 42yard field goal sailed wide right. Following that drive, the teams exchanged punts. Wisconsin then ran off several minutes by RUNNING the ball. Booker Stanley carried for gains of 7;6;6;and 14. Wisconsin was forced to punt back to Penn State. The Nittany Lions with very little time remaining, moved the ball and challenged for the game winner. With 5 seconds left, Robinson lofted a deep hail Mary pass, which was caught by a receiver at the 20, but he was tackled immeadialty,and Wisconsin hung on for the VICTORY.
Wisconsin now 2-0 in the Big Ten
5-1 Overall
Next Game; Ohio State( 1-0/ 5-0) 8PM Saturday at Camp Randall
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