Box Score
After battling it out in two overtimes, Wisconsin kicker Philip Welch drilled a 22-yard field goal attempt to give the Badgers the 34-31 win over Fresno State Saturday afternoon in front of 80,353 fans at Camp Randall Stadium.
In double overtime, senior captain Chris Maragos intercepted Fresno State quarterback Ryan Colburn in the end zone to give the Badgers the ball back and set up the game-winning field goal.
Welch went 2-of-3 from field goal range Saturday and also connected on a 57-yard boot in the first half. His 57-yard field goal was the second-longest in school history, and the longest by a Badger in an outdoor venue.
Sophomore running back John Clay had a big day in the Badger backfield with 21 carries for 143 yards and a 72-yard touchdown run.
Fresno State...7 - 14 - 0 - 3 - 7 -- 31
Wisconsin.....0 - 17 - 0 - 7 - 10 -- 34
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Read Betsy Golomski's live in-game blog from the press box in Camp Randall Stadium.
UWBadgers.com covers all the angles of Wisconsins double overtime victory over the Bulldogs.
Brian Mason looks at Chris Maragos' big play in overtime and other nuggets from the game in his Badger Bits column. Patrick Herb was on the field Saturday and gives us his View from the Sidelines. Allison Metcalf has a story on how the Badgers stepped up their game in overtime.
Scroll down to see a number of other links from today's game.
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The Badgers played from behind most of the game after Fresno State got out to a 14-0 lead by the beginning of the second quarter. Wisconsin responded, though, with an 11-yard touchdown run by Zach Brown in the second frame to get within seven points (14-7).
The Bulldogs struck again in the second quarter after a 14-yard touchdown pass from Colburn to Seyi Ajirotutu to put the score at 21-7.
Down 14, the Badgers turned it around to end the first half, scoring 10 unanswered points off an 8-yard TD run by David Gilreath and Welchs 57-yard FG.
Both teams came up with empty possessions in the third quarter and neither team scored until the 5:45 mark in the fourth quarter. On Wisconsins first play of the drive, Clay broke loose for a 72-yard run down the sideline and into the end zone to give Wisconsin its first lead of the game (24-21).
With 1:30 left to play, the Bulldogs had one more chance to score. They went eight plays for 35 yards and connected on a 41-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, Wisconsin started on offense and finished its drive with a 6-yard touchdown. Scott Tolzien found Nick Toon in the end zone to put the Badgers up 31-24.
Fresno State then evened the score with a 7-yard touchdown pass to even the score once again at 31-31.
In the second overtime, it was the Badger defense that stepped up to set up Wisconsins game-winning field goal. On Fresnos first play of the drive, Colburn looked to the end zone, but Maragos was there for the pick.
With the Bulldogs coming up empty, it was up to the Badgers to score. Clay carried the ball five times on the Badgers final possession to set up Welchs 22-yard FG.
The Badger defense registered three interceptions, including Maragos's pick in the second overtime. Niles Brinkley and Antonio Fenelus each had a pick during regulation. Senior defensive end O'Brien Schofield registered 11 tackles, including 4 TFLs.
Tolzien had another productive day for the UW offense, going 17-of-28 for 225 yards. He also threw to seven different receivers. Isaac Anderson led the Badger receivers with four grabs for 70 yards while Toon finished with four catches for 49 yards.
Wisconsin continues the 2009 season next Saturday when Wofford comes to town. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. inside Camp Randall Stadium.
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