November 18, 2006
Madison, Wis. -- Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan completed 16-of-26 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns as the Badgers beat Buffalo, 35-3, on Senior Day Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
The win gives UW its first-ever 11-win regular season and ties the school record for wins in a season. Wisconsin went 11-1 in the Rose Bowl season of 1998. The Badgers were 7-0 at home this season for the first time since 1898 and have won eight straight games dating back to the Michigan contest in September.
Paul Hubbard and Luke Swan each caught touchdown passes for Wisconsin (11-1). Travis Beckum had a game-high 135 yards on five receptions. P.J. Hill, Dywon Rowan and Lance Smith each had touchdown carries for the Badgers.
It took just two plays for UW to find the end zone. Jack Ikegwuonu recorded an interception on the first play from scrimmage, and on the next play Donovan found Hubbard across the middle for 26 yards and a 7-0 lead.
Buffalo quarterback Tony Paoli''s 47-yard screen pass to Naam Roosevelt on the fourth play of the game set up a 34-yard field by Adam Tanalski. The score remained 7-3 when Tanalski missed a 25-yard field goal with less than three minutes remaining in the first half.
The Badgers gained 62 yards on a third down pitch-and-catch from Donovan to Beckum on the ensuing possession. It was the longest play from scrimmage for Wisconsin this season and set up first-and-goal from the Buffalo 3-yard line. Two plays later, Hill scored from three yards out and UW led 14-3.
Mike Newkirk recovered a Paoli fumble with 50 seconds remaining in the half. Three plays later, Donovan found a wide open Swan down the right sideline for a 35-yard score. The Badgers led 21-3 at the half.
Donovan finished the first half 12-of-18 for 232 yards and two scores. In the first half of his two career starts, Donovan is 20-of-27 for 335 yards and four touchdowns. His final tally of 308 yards is the highest passing total for a Badger quarterback this season.
The UW defense allowed just 53 yards in the second half and forced four turnovers in the game. Three turnovers led to Badger touchdowns. In addition to his fumble recovery, Newkirk forced a fumble and had one of four Badger sacks.
Lance Smith''s 1-yard carry capped an 11-play, 62-yard drive for Wisconsin and extended the lead to 28-3 with five minutes left in the third quarter. Rowan scored from 11 yards out midway through the fourth.
Wisconsin had 19 first downs to six for Buffalo (2-9) and outgained the Bulls 436-159. James Starks led Buffalo with 31 yards rushing while Paoli completed just six passes for 107 yards.
Buffalo is the second team from the Mid-American Conference UW has faced this season. The Badgers beat Bowling Green, 35-14, in their season opener.
Wisconsin Post-Game Notes
'Wisconsin team captains are QB John Stocco, OL Joe Thomas and LB Mark Zalewswki.
'Wisconsin won the toss and deferred. Buffalo chose to take the ball and defend the south goal.
'Kickoff was at 11:05 a.m. CST
'Game attendance was announced at 80,850, the 25th straight sellout at Camp Randall Stadium and the 78th in last 88 home games.
TEAM NOTES
'With today''s win, Wisconsin recorded its first-ever 11-win regular season and tied the school record for wins in a season. UW went 11-1 in the Rose Bowl season of 1998.
'UW is the 13th Big Ten team since 1905 to record an 11-win regular season (includes Ohio State and Michigan this season).
'Bret Bielema is one of just six coaches in NCAA Division I-A history to win at least 11 games in his rookie season as a head coach. The others are Larry Coker of Miami (12-0 in 2001), Gary Blackney of Bowling Green (11-1 in 1991), John Robinson of USC (11-1 in 1976), Bill Battle of Tennessee (11-1 in 1970) and Gregg Brandon of Bowling Green (11-3 in 2003).
'The Badgers were 7-0 at home this season, tying the school record for home wins set in 1898. Since the start of the 2004 season, UW is 18-1 at Camp Randall Stadium.
'Wisconsin has won its last eight games. The only other team in school history to finish the regular season with eight consecutive victories was the 1901 team that finished the season 9-0. The Badgers' record that season included wins over Milwaukee Medical School and Hyde Park High School.
'Today marked the fifth time this season UW''s defense has not given up a touchdown. The Badger defense has given up just 13 TDs this season.
'Wisconsin scored a touchdown on its opening possession of the game for the fifth time this season.
'UW has scored 62 points in the final two minutes of the first half, putting points on the board in nine of its 12 games this season (eight touchdowns and two field goals).
'The Badger defense registered four takeaways today, their most in a game since recording five vs. Purdue on Oct. 22, 2005. UW scored 21 points off turnovers.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
'Tight end Travis Beckum, who entered the game as the nation''s leading receiver among tight ends, recorded a career high with 135 receiving yards today. On the season, he has 55 catches for 821 yards. Both are single-season records for a UW tight end. He is fourth on UW''s single-season list for receptions and seventh on the single-season list for receiving yards.
'Tyler Donovan connected with Paul Hubbard on a 26-yard touchdown pass on the Badgers' first offensive play. The touchdown came at the 14:04 mark of the first quarter. That is the quickest touchdown for the Badgers to begin a game since Ron Dayne scored on an 80-yard TD run at the 14:36 mark of the first quarter against San Jose State on Sept. 13, 1997.
'Donovan''s 62-yard pass to Beckum in the second quarter was the Badgers ' longest play this season. It was UW''s longest pass play since a 62-yard touchdown pass from John Stocco to Brandon Williams at Penn State on Nov. 5, 2005.
'Donovan finished the first half 12-of-18 for 232 yards and two touchdowns. In the first half of his two career starts, Donovan is 20-of-27 for 335 yards and four touchdowns. That equates to a pass efficiency rating of 227.2.
'Donovan threw for 308 yards, the highest passing total for a Badger quarterback this season.
'P.J. Hill's 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was his 16th TD of the season. That ties Brent Moss (1993) for the fifth-most touchdowns.
'Hill rushed for 86 yards today, giving him 1,533 yards on the season. He is just the seventh freshman in NCAA history to run for at least 1,500 yards. That is the seventh-best single-season rushing total in school history.
'Jack Ikegwuonu recorded an interception on the first play from scrimmage. It was his second interception of the season and the fifth of his career.
'In his final game at Camp Randall Stadium, senior safety Joe Stellmacher recorded the first fumble recovery of his career.
'Freshman quarterback Dustin Scherer played in his second career game. He also saw action at Indiana on Sept. 30.
Wisconsin Head Coach Bret Bielema Post-Game Quotes
Opening Statement: 'This week has been a unique challenge for us, just because it was a culmination of a season. We talked about finishing and how we were going to approach this game. I thought this week they prepared very, very well. John (Stocco) did get in there and take some reps, but it was limited, so we thought that Tyler (Donovan) gave us our best option. He again surprised a few people with what he was able to accomplish out there today. It''s just another symbol of a team that believes in one another. The way they talk and communicate with each another, it puts them in position to have success.
'To have the game start the way it did, the first play with a pick, and the first play from our offense was a touchdown, got the ball rolling. We didn''t do things as clean as we wanted to until the way we closed out that first half. It was an outstanding performance by Tyler on a couple throws there, and catches, and it put us in a position to have success. It just continued through the second half. We got out relatively injury free. We will take a couple of weeks off and come back and find out where we 're going.'
On the last game for the seniors: 'It was something that we addressed all the way back to last Sunday and then going into today''s game, we know it''s a very emotional thing. They were able to go out there and have success and that was a great thing for them to do today.
On what finishing 11-1 means: 'It means a great deal to our staff, our team and our program. I realized there are only four teams in the country that have won more than nine games in the last four years and we were able to do that. What happens in college football is a wild, wild world out there and anything can happen. We put ourselves in a position to be 11-1 and finish as strong as anybody in the country. We did it with a back-up quarterback two weeks in a row. We are a very good football team that deserves as big of a venue as we can get. My guess is wherever we go, there are going to be a lot of Wisconsin fans. It will be a lot of fun.'
On Travis Beckum: 'Travis has had huge growth during this season, not only as a receiver but also with his blocking skills and the way he is able to execute and help us. The great thing is he is kind of drawing a lot of attention which frees up some things for other guys. Anytime you have a tight end that can do what he can do a catching game, you really have to adjust your coverages from a defensive standpoint. He has really grown as a football player. Now he is running the ball for us as well. He is, in my opinion, a first-team All-Big Ten tight end.'
On Tyler Donovan: 'I really thought Tyler handled the game, as it unfolded, very, very well. He was put in some tough spots and some tough third-down conversions. He was patient. I think it speaks volumes the way he has prepared and the way he has been coached.'
Buffalo Head Coach Turner Gill Post-Game Quotes
Opening Statement: 'I am very proud of our players, they played very competitive today. That is something we always talk about, being competitive every single play. Our guys gave a great effort today. Wisconsin has a great football team, and I don' 't want to take anything away from them. Their offense, defense and special teams all did a great job. Coach (Bret) Bielema has done a great job with this program. '
On giving up a turnover on your first possession: 'Obviously you don' 't want to start off the game like that. Having a turnover on the first play really hurts the offense, but our guys were resilient and fought through it. The next possession, we took the ball right down the field and were able to put three points on the board and put ourselves back in position. Once again they were really resilient and I am very proud of the way they play football.'
On being in the game for the majority of the first half: 'Obviously Wisconsin has a very good defense, but we also had some mistakes that kept us from scoring. There were a few opportunities that we had to score, but we just couldn''t get over that hill. We had the drive in which we got the ball to the 4-yard line. You''re always hoping to get out of there with seven points, at worst, get a field goal. Not getting any points there really changed the momentum of the game against us.'
Wisconsin Player Post-Game Quotes
Defensive Lineman Joe Monty
On the score being 7-3 late in the first half: 'I wasn''t worried at all. I knew the offense was going to pick it up and they did in the second half. I wasn' 't that worried. I was more upset that we were only up by four points. '
On scoring quick in the game: 'We did think it was going to go easier after we scored right away. We knew we came out firing on all cylinders, but after the first drive we got a little lackadaisical. But at the end of the first half we got it turned up. '
On the fumble play: 'I came around the tackle, the tackle didn''t touch me, the running back just sat there and didn''t touch me either. So I just had to make that play.'
Tight End Travis Beckum
On the development of the offense this season: 'I think it is mostly a confidence factor. We know now that we can just go out and try to score when we want to and just be able to move the ball. The Michigan game was a good test for us, but since that we have been a lot more confident.'
On his catch at the end of the first half: 'Well I knew I had a safety over my shoulder and when I caught the ball I felt him hit my leg and I didn''t think there was anyone else there, so I was thinking to score. It was my goal to score. Unfortunately, it didn''t happen.'
On knowing they needed a big play at the end of the first: 'We knew that we needed somebody to step up and take that role and make something happen. It happened to be me and then things just carried over from that.'
Running Back Lance Smith
On his year: 'When I first came here I had to learn all the plays and stuff, but as the season went on I feel like I progressed and I learned stuff. I feel like I got a lot stronger and faster in the weight room and doing all the conditioning things.'
On working under P.J. Hill: 'During camp I really didn''t know all my stuff and P.J. would tell me, `you need to do this, and this isn''t right.' ' After a while I started doing the same things over and over and P.J. said I was doing it right. From there I knew what I was doing and he would tell me good job. '
On having an 11-1 season for the outgoing senior class: 'It means a lot. I think it shows that it takes a lot for teams to beat us and we are not just a pushover. I just think that we take it one game at a time and we are all right.'
Quarterback John Stocco
On not playing on senior day: 'It was tough, last time in Camp Randall. I wanted to be out there with my teammates but I just couldn't be happier for this team. This has been the most fun I''ve ever had playing. I''m happy with the way it ended.'
On the 11-1 record: 'Before the season, we knew we had some talented guys coming back. We knew it was a matter of building that team chemistry with the new coaches and a lot of the younger guys that we have playing. We really have great chemistry on this team, and like I said, I think it''s a special group here.'
On Tyler Donovan''s performance the past two weeks: 'Last week against Iowa, that''s unbelievable what he did for his first career start. To go down there against Iowa and he couldn''t have played any better than he did. I' 'm so happy for him. And then again, this game, he just played awesome. Nobody deserves it more than he does. He just does an outstanding job for us.'
Kicker Taylor Mehlhaff
On missing a field goal and having another attempt blocked: 'It''s definitely not the way I want to end the regular season. It looks like we''re going down to Florida and see some warm weather so that will be nice. For the most part I thought I kicked off well. Early on I had some lower kicks. I always try to drive it more when it''s colder just because I feel like I have to put more on the ball to get it in the end zone. But naturally I just have to swing normal.'
On kick-off improvements and coverage: 'For the most part we''ve done really well these last couple of games. We have had some great kicks. I think we had two big ones at Iowa and then here today we obviously had a huge return. We have to get that stuff fixed, we can''t have that, but I thought we''d done a good job with it all year.'
Wide Receiver Paul Hubbard
On Tyler Donovan''s role: 'I feel like there came a point in the season where Coach B went up to Tyler and he stressed that we weren''t going to have Stocco for all the games and we need him to step up and fill in where he left off. And that means you''re going to have to throw the ball. I feel like he took it upon himself to work on it in practice.'
On early mistakes: 'If we let off the gas it was because we were beating ourselves. We were making foolish mistakes, assignments, blocking assignments, blown routes. A lot of people couldn''t see that from the outside. If we were not making plays it was because we were beating ourselves, miscues and stuff like that.'
On the final minute of play in the first half: 'We needed somebody to step up and made a big play. Travis [Beckum] made it, [Luke] Swan made it, and we went into the half feeling a little bit better about ourselves.'
