Only once in the history of Wisconsin football have the Badgers won in Ann Arbor. Well at least until Saturday when the Badgers defeated the Wolverines in the Big House for the first time since 1994.The Badgers started off strong in the first half with an attack on the ground and through the air. But Wisconsin did the most damage with the running game against Michigan.
On the first touchdown drive of the game Wisconsin ran the ball nine times. The Badgers racked up 73 yards on the ground on that drive including a one yard touchdown run by Montee Ball. The first of four for the sophomore running back on Saturday.
Wisconsin would only lead 7-0 after the first quarter, but just like the Indiana game it would be the second quarter when they would do the most damage. Starting with a 72 yard drive that would result in a Philip Welch field goal. A drive that would be the direct result of Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien's arm.
Following four running plays Tolzien was able to show off his arm with four consecutive passing plays. All completions that would move the Badgers to the Michigan seven yard line. After a penalty Tolzien would complete two more passes to get the Badgers to the Michigan five and set up the Welch field goal.
Unnoticed on Saturday in terms of offense was the efficiency of Tolzien in the passing game. The senior quarterback threw for 201 yards on 14 of 15 passing. The only incompletion was actually an interception thrown by Tolzien late in the second quarter.
Following the field goal the Badger running backs would take over the scoring the rest of the half. First with a 27 yard touchdown run by Montee Ball that would move the score to 17-0. Then with under two minutes to go in the half freshman James White broke one for 61 yards that would make it 24-0 going into the half.
At the half the memories of two years ago started to creep into the minds of the commentators who were covering the game. Memories of a Badger loss after blowing a 19-0 halftime lead in the Big House, and after the two consecutive touchdowns those fears started to look like reality. That is until the Badgers responded to the Michigan offense with another touchdown.
After a fumble by senior wide receiver Isaac Ancderson the Badgers turned back the bread and butter. Rushing the ball for 26 consecutive plays, including another long touchdown run by James White, the Badgers were able to regain control of the game.
Control that the Badger defense needed against a potent Michigan offense. In the third quarter the Wolverines started to click on the offensive side of the ball. Especially with quarterback Denard Robinson.
The sophomore quarterback started to hit his passes, and started to find his legs in the third quarter. Connecting with wide receiver Darryl Stronum for the first touchdown, and then running for two more Robinson started to get the Wolverines back in the game. Until the Badger defense found a way to silence them.
In the fourth quarter the game was starting to find a back and forth rhythm in terms of scoring. Michigan would score, and the Wisconsin would answer. That is until the Badgers created a key turnover in the early moments of the quarter.
On a Robinson pass junior defensive end J.J. Watt was not only to block the pass, but also able to intercept it. The turnover would turn into another Welch field goal that would take the Badger lead to twenty points, and would in many ways lock up the victory for the Badgers.
Michigan would strike on more time for a touchdown, but it would be to little too late. Wisconsin would answer with another touchdown by Montee Ball, and would go on to win 48-28. Defeating the Wolverines for the first time at Michigan Stadium for the first since 1994, and taking a firm hold onto the Big Ten championship reigns.
No comments:
Post a Comment