Sunday, October 14, 2001
Wisconsin 20, Ohio State 17
Buckeyes blow 17-0 lead
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — For a day, all of the Wisconsin Badgers became history majors. Recreating the comeback of two years ago, Wisconsin spotted No.21 Ohio State a 17-0 lead, then roared back for a 20-17 upset Saturday.
“It does show that history can repeat itself,” Wisconsin defensive lineman Wendell Bryant said.
Mark Neuser's 33-yard field goal with 2:13 remaining capped the comeback that came a week after the Badgers' humiliating 63-32 loss at home to winless Indiana.
“One of the things I told the kids last night when I met with them was, "I want to see my team play,'” Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said. “I want to get back to our team play and I saw that. I saw guys competing. I saw defensive guys flying around.”
Ohio State (3-2, 2-1 Big Ten), which routed then-No.13 Northwestern 38-20 last Saturday behind a bruising running game, rushed for minus-4 yards in the second half.
The last time Wisconsin (4-3, 2-1) made the trip to Ohio Stadium, Ohio State built a 17-0 lead only to watch the Badgers score the next 42 in a 42-17 victory.
“Deja vu,” Wisconsin tight end Mark Anelli said. “I don't know what it is about this place, but we like spotting them 17 points.”
This time, Ohio State again dominated the first half but Wisconsin — which has won nine of its last 10 road games — bounced back behind a rock-hard defense, tailback Anthony Davis and quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Bollinger who also engineered the upset of the 12th-ranked Buckeyes by the unranked Badgers in 1999.
The game turned late in the first half when OSU quarterback Steve Bellisari overthrew a long pass to Michael Jenkins, stopping the clock with less than a minute left
and the Buckeyes ahead 17-0.
On the ensuing play, the snap was high and wide to punter Andy Groom, who was forced to run the ball. He gained a yard before being gang-tackled at his own 23.
“That was a crucial error,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
On first down, Davis slanted right and avoided an arm tackle by safety Donnie Nickey, trotting into the end zone with 46 seconds left.
Wisconsin then got the ball at the start of the third quarter. The 80-yard drive was highlighted by Bollinger's 27-yard pass to Evans who broke wide open after defender Michael Doss fell.
“We came in at halftime down, but we knew all we needed was one big play and we were right back in it,” said Davis, who gained 103 yards on 26 carries against OSU.
On third and 12 at the Ohio 42, Bollinger stared down a blitz and fired a quick pass to Nick Davis, who had six catches for 90 yards. He broke an attempted tackle by Cie Grant and cut back to the corner to complete the touchdown and cut the lead to 17-14.
It stayed that way until the third play of the fourth quarter. The Badgers drove 55 yards — including Evans' acrobatic leap for a 30-yard pass from Bollinger to set up Neuser's 25-yard tying field goal. Evans ended up with 92 yards on three catches.
The teams traded punts before the Buckeyes moved downfield on mostly runs. They picked up a first down at the Wisconsin 36, but the drive stalled when freshman tailback Lydell Ross was stopped for no gain and a 3-yard loss on a pair of runs with Ohio State needing two yards for a first down.
Josh Huston then was wide right on the 48-yard field goal attempt with 5:04 left.
Taking over at their own 31, the Badgers picked up 34 yards on the first snap, with Bollinger, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 202 yards with one interception, finding Evans alone at the left sideline. A pair of Anthony Davis runs gave the Badgers a first down at the 20, from where they ran on the next three plays.
Neuser then converted the 33-yard kick.
Ohio State's last chance started at its 38. Bellisari ran for a 1-yard gain and overthrew three passes before the Badgers ran out the clock.
“They had the upper hand today,” Bellisari said. “I don't know how else to explain it. You guys can point the finger at me. There's not one person on the team more disappointed than I am when we lose a game.”
Bellisari finished 10-of-21 for 132 yards with one interception.
“Obviously we're disappointed,” Tressel said. “We have plenty of things to look at and get better at.”
| Team |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
SCORE |
|---|
| Wisconsin |
|
0 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
|
|
20 |
| Ohio State |
|
10 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
17 |
|---|
| Scoring Summary |
|---|
| 1st Quarter | Ohio State Field Goal - 44-yarder by Josh Huston. 10:27
Remaining.
Ohio State Touchdown - 1-yard run by Steve Bellisari. (Josh
Huston kick). 4:28 Remaining.
|
|---|
| 2nd Quarter | Ohio State Touchdown - 3-yard run by Lydell Ross. (Josh Huston
kick). 10:27 Remaining.
Wisconsin Touchdown - 23-yard run by Anthony Davis. (Mark
Meuser kick). 0:46 Remaining.
|
|---|
| 3rd Quarter | Wisconsin Touchdown - 42-yard pass from Brooks Bollinger to
Nick Davis. (Mark Meuser kick). 12:07 Remaining.
|
|---|
| 4th Quarter | Wisconsin Field Goal - 25-yarder by Mark Meuser. 14:10
Remaining.
Wisconsin Field Goal - 33-yarder by Mark Neuser. 2:10
Remaining.
|
|---|
| Final Team Statistics | Wisconsin | Ohio State |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 17 |
| Rushes-yards | 35-127 | 50-121 |
| Passing yards | 202 | 132 |
| Return yards | 67 | 87 |
| Passing (Att-Comp-Int) | 22-12-1 | 21-10-1 |
| Punts-Average | 4-42.0 | 3-46.3 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 3-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 3-15 | 2-20 |
| Time of Possession | 26:09 | 33:51 |
| Rushing |
|---|
| Wisconsin |
- A.Davis 26-103, Bollinger 7-28, Team 2-(-4).
|
| Ohio State |
- Wells 24-66, Ross 14-59, Martin 1-2, Groom 1-1, Bellisari
10-(-7).
|
| Passing |
|---|
| Wisconsin |
- Bollinger 12-22-1, 202 yards and 1 touchdown.
|
| Ohio State |
- Bellisari 10-21-1, 132 yards.
|
| Receiving |
|---|
| Wisconsin |
- N.Davis 6-90, Evans 3-92, Anelli 2-15, Charles 1-5.
|
| Ohio State |
- Vance 4-67, Jenkins 4-56, Wells 1-7, Martin 1-2.
|
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