Wisconsin topples No. 1 Ohio State
10/16/2010MADISON, Wis. – Top-ranked Ohio State was stunned 31-18 by Wisconsin Saturday night as the Badgers dominated the first half, and then flexed their offensive might when it mattered late in the game.
Wisconsin took the ball to start the game, and David Gilreath went 97 yards for a touchdown with the kickoff and quickly gave Wisconsin a 7-0 lead.
The Buckeyes went nowhere, and after Wisconsin got the ball back, the Badgers rode tailback John Clay on five of six plays in a scoring drive that made it 14-0 just five minutes into the game. Clay scored on a 14-yard burst, going in untouched.
Wisconsin stopped the Buckeyes again, and starting from its own 11 yardline, Wisconsin drove the distance, with Clay scoring again for a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
The Buckeyes put together their first semblance of offense early in the second quarter, moving 64 yards to the Wisconsin four yardline, but settled for a 21-yard field goal from Devin Barclay that made it 21-3. Barclay missed from 45 yards out a few minutes later after an Andrew Sweat interception had set Ohio State up at the Wisconsin 23.
Ohio State took the opening kick of the second half and drove for its first touchdown, which came on a 13-yard run by Dan Herron that cut the lead to 21-10 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes then closed the gap further with a 94-yard drive that ended with Herron scoring a touchdown from a yard out, and then Pryor passing to Reid Fragel for the two-point conversion that reduced the deficit to 21-18 with just over 11 minutes to play.
Ohio State's hopes for a dramatic comeback were dashed when its defense could not stop Wisconsin and the Badgers drove for a touchdown that stretched the lead to 28-18 with about seven minutes left in the game. The Badgers added a field goal to set the final margin.