Box Score October 10, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Wisconsin defense limited No. 8/9 Ohio State to just 184 yards of total offense, but three non-offensive touchdowns contributed to the Buckeyes’ 31-13 win over the Badgers Saturday afternoon.
The loss is Wisconsin’s first of the season and drops UW to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State improves to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
UW quarterback Scott Tolzien finished 27-of-45 for 250 yards and threw to 10 different receivers, but he was picked off twice and both were returned for Ohio State touchdowns.
The Badgers’ lone touchdown of the afternoon came thanks to Chris Maragos, who converted on a fake field goal in the second quarter. UW kicker Philip Welch went 2-for-4 on field goals to contribute six points for the Badgers.
Defensively, Mike Taylor led the Badgers with eight tackles. O’Brien Schofield added seven stops, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss for a total of 20 yards. Culmer St. Jean also contributed seven tackles and an interception.
Wisconsin....0 - 10 - 3 - 0 – 13
OSU.............7 - 7 - 14 - 3 – 31
It was a defensive struggle to begin the game. With both teams scoreless, Wisconsin drove to the OSU 31 on its third possession but Tolzien’s pass was picked off by Kurt Coleman, who returned it 89 yards for a touchdown.
In the second quarter, it was the UW defense that stepped up to help provide the Badgers’ first touchdown. St. Jean intercepted a Terrelle Pryor pass on third-and-10 to set up the UW drive at the OSU 12.
Wisconsin managed just four yards on the drive, however, and brought in Welch to kick a field goal. Instead, holder and defensive back Maragos grabbed the snap and ran nine yards, stretching over the pylon to even the score at 7-7.
Wisconsin then took its first lead of the game, using a 14-play, 45-yard drive on its next possession to go up 10-7 on a 50-yard field goal by Welch.
At that point, the UW defense had limited Ohio State to just 31 yards of total offense. With 1:52 remaining, the Buckeyes drove 88 yards for their second touchdown of the game to take the 14-10 advantage. The Badgers had one last chance to score in the half, but Welch missed a 57-yard attempt as the Buckeyes took the 14-10 lead into halftime.
Wisconsin opened the second half on offense but Ohio State’s Jermale Hines picked off another Tolzien pass and returned it 32 yards for another touchdown to give the Buckeyes a 21-10 advantage.
The Badgers responded shortly thereafter, going five plays and 40 yards to pull within eight points, at 21-13, after Welch hit a 46-yarder. On the ensuing kickoff, OSU’s Ray Small scored another non-offensive touchdown as he returned Welch’s kickoff 96 yards into the end zone.
Down 28-13, the Badgers’ next drive began at their own 5-yard line. They managed to run 16 plays to get out to the OSU 16, but Welch missed a 33-yard attempt to keep the score at 28-13.
Ohio State’s offense did not see the field until the 1:40 mark in the third quarter, but the Buckeyes scored in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with a 37-yard field goal.
Wisconsin controlled the clock in the fourth period but was unable to score on its final three possessions as the Buckeyes held on for the win. The Badgers held possession for 42:47 of the game, while OSU had control of the ball for just 17:13.
The Badgers return to Camp Randall Stadium next Saturday for the annual homecoming game, as Iowa comes to town for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
COMPLETE POST-GAME COVERAGE
