UW Loses Conference Opener
September 23, 2006 | Football
September 23, 2006
Ann Arbor, MI --The Wisconsin football team (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) lost its Big Ten conference opener to No. 6 Michigan (4-0, 1-0) Saturday afternoon, 27-13, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to break open a game that was tied 10-10 at halftime. Badger running back P.J. Hill accounted for 118 total yards, 54 rushing and 64 receiving, as well as UW''s only touchdown.
The Badgers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead 5:52 into the first quarter. Cornerback Allen Langford picked off a Chad Henne pass on Michigan''s first drive, giving UW the ball on its own 40-yard line. Five plays later, John Stocco hit P.J. Hill on a dump off pass that Hill took 29 yards into the end zone.
With 22 seconds left in the first quarter, Michigan went for the first down on fourth-and-1 from the Wisconsin 19-yard line. The Badgers stopped Henne''s quarterback sneak attempt short of the mark, giving Wisconsin the ball back. UW could not move the ball and punted back to Michigan.
The Wolverines'' Steve Breaston returned the punt 29 yards to Wisconsin' 's 36-yard line. Three plays later, Henne hit wide receiver Mario Manningham on a 24-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone at the 13:19 mark of the second quarter. It was the first touchdown UW''s defense had given up in a span of 158:39.
After the teams traded punts, Wisconsin got the ball on its own 12-yard line. The Badgers embarked on a 10-play drive that culminated in a 39-yard field goal by Taylor Mehlhaff. Stocco went 3-of-5 on the drive for 44 yards on the drive.
Michigan went three-and-out on its next drive but Zolten Mesko unleashed a 57-yard punt that the Badgers'' Zach Hampton could not handle. Turner Booth recovered the fumble at UW''s 18-yard line. Wisconsin''s defense held and limited the Wolverines to a 31-yard field goal by Garrett Rivas. The teams entered halftime tied at 10-10.
The score stayed that way until Henne and Manningham connected again, this time on a 38-yard TD pass at the 3:11 mark of the third quarter. Michigan needed just four plays to cover 56 yards and take its first lead of the game.
The Wolverines tacked on a touchdown at the 11:33 mark of the fourth quarter. After Breaston returned a punt 27 yards, UM started its drive on Wisconsin''s 33-yard line. Four plays later Michael Hart plunged in from five yards out for a 24-10 lead. Garrett Rivas closed the Michigan scoring with a 32-yard field goal with 5:29 left in the game.
Wisconsin responded with a 12-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in Mehlhaff''s second field goal of the day, a 26-yarder with 2:19 remaining.
Wisconsin travels to Bloomington, Ind., next Saturday to take on the Hoosiers. The game will begin at 11 a.m. CT and be televised by ESPN2.
Wisconsin Post-Game Notes
Wisconsin at Michigan
Michigan Stadium 'Ann Arbor, Mich.
September 23, 2006
Miscellaneous Notes
-Wisconsin''s captains were quarterback John Stocco, offensive tackle Joe Thomas, linebacker Mark Zalewski and defensive tackle Nick Hayden.
-Wisconsin won the coin toss and deferred. Michigan elected to receive to start the game and defend the north goal.
-Today''s attendance was 111,058.
Team Notes
-Michigan''s touchdown at 13:19 of the second quarter was the first TD given up by Wisconsin's defense since the third quarter of the Badgers' ' season-opener vs. Bowling Green, a span of 158:39.
-Wisconsin''s four touchdown receptions this season have been by four different receivers.
-UW is 0-1 in Big Ten Conference play for the first time since 2002.
-The Badgers lost a game in September for the first time since a 23-5 loss to UNLV on Sept. 13, 2003.
-UW held Michigan to 111 rushing yards, 95 yards below its season average.
Individual Notes
-Allen Langford recorded the first two-interception game of his career. He now has three interceptions this season and five in his career.
-P.J. Hill''s 29-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was the first receiving touchdown of his career. It was the 34th career TD pass for quarterback John Stocco, moving him into fourth place on Wisconsin''s career passing touchdown's list.
-With his third completion of the game, a six-yard pass to Paul Hubbard in the first quarter, Stocco moved into second place on UW''s career completion's list. He now has 434 completions in his career, second only to Darrell Bevell's 646.
-Hill''s five receptions and 64 receiving yards were both career highs.
-Taylor Mehlhaff kicked two field goals, his third and fourth of the season. He is now 18-of-21 in his career on field goals inside of 50 yards.
-Ken DeBauche set a school record with 514 total punting yards today. The previous record was 500 by Brad Brekke vs. Miami on Sept. 9, 1989. DeBauche punted a career-high 11 times for an average of 46.7 yards. His 57-yard punt in the third quarter tied his season long. His 11 punts were one shy of the school record held by Dave Fronek (vs. Nebraksa, Oct. 9, 1965), Bob Schaffner (vs. Iowa, Oct. 19, 1968) and Brekke.
-Tight ends Travis Beckum and Andy Crooks each recorded career highs in receptions and receiving yards. Beckum had five catches for 53 yards while Crooks had four catches for 41 yards.
-Xavier Harris'' eight-yard reception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
-Jack Ikegwuonu''s fourth-quarter interception was his first of the season and fourth of his career.
-Isaac Anderson''s two catches and 21 yards were career highs.
