Wisconsin was busy on the ground and efficient with the pass in Orlando’s Champs Sports Bowl Tuesday night. The Big 10 leading rusher and offensive player of the year, John Clay, accumulated 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Badgers to their tenth win of the season. Twenty-fourth ranked Wisconsin bowled over the 14th ranked Miami Hurricanes 20-14 on a cold and soggy Citrus Bowl turf. The Badgers beat Miami with a balanced offensive attack. Wisconsin quarterback, Scott Tolzien, threw a career-high 260 yards in the win. Tolzien was 19-of-26 with one interception and Clay punched out two three-yard rushing touchdowns.
The Badgers’ offensive line controlled the Miami defense early on, but struggled to contain the speedy Hurricane backfield. Junior running back, Graig Cooper, was solid for Miami in the first quarter. Cooper followed a Miami penalty with a touchdown in the first minute of the game. Sam Shields took a lateral on the opening kickoff and zipped to the Wisconsin six yard line. An illegal block cost the ‘Canes ten yards, but Cooper found the end zone as Miami jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Tolzien handed off the Clay on six of the eight plays during the Badgers’ first drive. Miami stuffed the rusher and forced Wisconsin to punt. Clay put the Badgers on the board midway through the first quarter with the first of his two rushing touchdowns. The Big 10 representatives needed just three plays to score their first seven points. Tolzien’s toss to Lance Hendricks for a 37 yard gain set up Clay’s three yard run.
The game remained tied 7-7 moving into the second quarter, when the Badger defense really started to click. The Hurricanes couldn’t piece it together on offense as Jacory Harris was continually pressured. Harris was sacked, and ‘Canes rushed for two consecutive losses on their first possession of the second quarter. Senior lineman, O’Brien Schofield, sacked Harris twice in straight possessions. Linebacker, Chris Borland, also took credit for two of Wisconsin’s five sacks. Borland was named conference freshman of the year. The once-hailed Miami quarterback looked entirely lost in Orlando against a Big 10 defense that hasn’t lived up to their primetime status as of late. Harris finished with 188 yards and completed 16-of-29 passes for 9-4 Miami. Harris was an inviting target for Wisconsin the remainder of the night.
The defense wasn’t much better for Miami in the second quarter. There were missed tackles and poor blocking by the ACC powerhouse. The Badgers thrived on running and throwing on play-action. Clay recorded seven of the ten second quarter points for Wisconsin. Philip Welch tallied the remaining three with .12 second left before the break. Welch’s kick through the uprights from 37 yards gave the Badgers a 17-7 lead heading into the halftime locker room. The Badgers came away empty on a four and a half minute drive to open the second half. Yet, Wisconsin kept grinding as the Hurricanes were spinning out of control on both ends. Miami’s meltdown wasn’t helped by an inconsistent and unproductive Harris. The ‘Canes had little success moving the ball. Harris’s longest completion was to sophomore wideout, Tommy Streeter. Streeter’s 47 yard reception in the third was his only of the game, but went for naught. Miami flopped when they went for it on fourth-and-four from the Badger 35 yard line. Wisconsin took over on downs, but also failed to score.
The fourth quarter scoring was scarce until the clock read four minutes. Welch knocked in Wisconsin’s second field goal to put the Badgers on top by 13. Welch connected from 29 yards out to provide what seemed like a commanding lead. The Hurricanes took a critical step in coming back on the ensuing possession. Harris dictated the tempo for the ‘Canes, going 79 yards on 10 plays. The result was a 14 yard touchdown pass to Thearon Collier with 1:22 left in the game. Miami was within six points of tying the score when the recovered the onside kick. Schofield sacked Harris for the third time on Miami’s own 41 yard line, and nearly threw a pick on the second play of the drive to kill the rally. The Badgers took over with .42 seconds remaining to run out the clock on the bowl game and secure their first ten win season since 2006. Wisconsin limited the dynamic Miami offense to 249 yards. Defensive end, J.J. Watt, recovered a Harris fumble, and Micanor Regis snagged an interception in the win. Montee Ball added 61 yards rushing to complement Clay’s tremendous game.
Parting Points: Song of the day- Madonna’s : “Take A Bow”.
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