Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Post-Game Notes
September 26, 2009 | Football
Wisconsin Post-Game Notes
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State
Sept. 26, 2009
Camp Randall Stadium ' Madison, Wis.
Team Notes
' Wisconsin scored 21 points off Michigan State turnovers, turning a pair of interceptions into touchdowns in the first half and a fourth-quarter fumble recovery into a TD as well.
' UW has won 26 straight games when it scores at least 30 points.
' The Badgers are 6-4 in their last 10 Big Ten Conference openers.
' For the first time this season, the Badgers won the time-of-possession battle, holding the ball for 37:29 compared to 22:31 for MSU.
' Wisconsin is still perfect on the season when it gets inside the opponent 's 20-yard line. The Badgers found points on all four of their trips into the red zone against Michigan State, scoring four touchdowns. For the season, UW is now 16-for-16 once it gets inside the 20.
' The Badgers posted a plus-3 turnover margin in a game for the second time this season, and now own a plus-5 turnover margin on the year.
' The Badgers have won five consecutive games against Michigan State when posting a positive turnover margin against the Spartans.
' Overall, the Badgers have won five consecutive games in which they have scored first. The last time UW failed to win a game in which it got on the scoreboard first was last season's 25-24 loss to the Spartans in East Lansing on Nov. 1, 2008.
Offensive Notes
' Senior tight end Garrett Graham became the sixth Badger to catch at least three touchdown passes in a game. The last to do so was Owen Daniels, who had three TD grabs against Temple on Sept. 10, 2005. Graham is now eighth in UW history in career receiving touchdowns with 13.
' Quarterback Scott Tolzien's first four completions went to four different receivers (Kendricks, Toon, Graham and Turner).
' Tolzien threw a career-high four touchdown passes. That is the 10th time in school history a UW quarterback has thrown at least four touchdown passes in a game. The last to do so was John Stocco vs. Minnesota on Oct. 14, 2006.
' John Clay's second-quarter touchdown run was his fourth of the season and 13th of his career. Clay rushed for 145 yards, his second 100-yard game of the season and the fifth of his career.
' UW's 17-play drive that went 50 yards, ate up 7:33 of clock and resulted in a field goal in the third quarter was its longest drive of the season, and its longest in terms of plays since at least 2004. Prior to that drive, the Badgers' 12-play scoring drive in the second quarter was tied for their longest scoring drive of the season. UW also went 12 plays for a touchdown against Northern Illinois in the season opener.
' Wisconsin's 11 third-down conversions (11-for-18) also are the most for the Badgers in a game since converting 11 in a 42-21 win over Washington State on Sept. 1, 2007. For the season, the Badgers have converted on 54.9 percent of their third-down tries (28 of 51).
' Nick Toon's fourth-quarter TD reception was his second of the season and third of his career.
Defensive Notes
' Freshman linebacker Mike Taylor recorded his first career interception, picking off an MSU pass in the first quarter. That led to Wisconsin's first touchdown. Taylor finished with eight total tackles, one shy of the career-high nine he posted last week against Wofford.
' Senior safety Chris Maragos recorded the third and fourth interceptions of his career, and his second and third of the season. Through four games, UW already has seven interceptions. The Badgers had 12 picks in 13 games a year ago.
' Wisconsin has now forced 12 turnovers this season through four games. UW had 22 turnovers gained in 13 games last season.
' Freshman linebacker Chris Borland recorded his first career sack, halting an MSU fourth-quarter drive with a sack on fourth down.
' UW held Michigan State to just 90 yards on the ground. The Badgers are now 15-2 under head coach Bret Bielema when limiting its opponent to fewer than 100 rushing yards.
