Evridge makes pivotal pass
September 06, 2008 | Football
The Badgers began with a bit of a rocky start today at Camp Randall Stadium. Marshall tailback Chubb Small scored a touchdown halfway through the first quarter to put the Thundering Herd on the scoreboard first. The Badgers were unable to respond and soon enough, found themselves down 14-0 early in the first half. Another Herd tailback, Darius Marshall, scored the second touchdown after a one-yard rush at the beginning of the second quarter.
Wisconsin quarterback Allan Evridge knew the team had to increase its intensity in order to erase the 14-point deficit.
'We just had to continue to go with the game plan and everybody do their assignment. That was the most important thing,' Evridge said.
Wisconsin's next drive with 13:34 left in the first half was when things started to turn around. Up until that point, Evridge was 0-for-4. A 36-yard pass to Lance Kendricks is the play that changed not only Evridge's individual involvement in the game, but the team's performance as a whole.
The Badgers held off the Herd and ended the half with a 17-14 lead. After Evridge 's big throw to Kendricks the Badger quarterback completed six of his next eight pass attempts.
'We were just really hurting ourselves and it was important for everyone to step up and make plays and that is what our team did,' Evridge said. 'That is what's so great about our team is our ability to step things up. '
Evridge saw his play with teammate Lance Kendricks as something that positively influenced the rhythm of the game.
'When you look back on the game I really think that it was a pivotal movement. ' Evridge said, 'I believe it was my first completed pass of the game. I was trying to get things going and once you get that first play under your belt it gives you that momentum. It definitely was a good play.'
Lance Kendricks saw this play not only as an important one for changing the momentum of the game, but it also showed off the different abilities of the Wisconsin offense.
'I think it really helped, Kendricks said. 'It really got the offense going, especially the receivers and the tight ends. It felt good. It definitely got everyone going so I think it was a very good effective play. It shows our versatility and our ability to run the ball and pass the ball.'
This play did change the game. Wisconsin went on to score 51 unanswered points and tally its second win of the season.
Team chemistry and Wisconsin's ability to work together is what influenced the pivotal change. Evridge and Kendricks' chemistry and teamwork helped the Badgers turn a frustrating beginning around.
'I think Allan and I have really good chemistry on the field.' Kendricks said, 'We joke around a lot and we really try to get it going during practice. I think that's why we're able to accomplish so much. '
