Wisconsin Defeats Fresno State in Thriller
Interception in Second OT Period Sets Up Winning Score for Badgers
Philip Welch's kick hit the right upright, then bounced through for a 22-yard field goal that gave Wisconsin a 34-31 double-overtime victory over Fresno State on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Madison, Wis.
Badgers safety Chris Maragos set up the game-winning score, intercepting Ryan Colburn on the first play of the second OT period.
Wisconsin then used five successive runs by John Clay to advance 20 yards to the Fresno State 5-yard line. Welch's kick ended the game, improving Wisconsin to 2-0.
Clay ran 21 times for 143 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Scott Tolzien completed 17 of 28 passes for 225 yards and one TD in his second start for the Badgers.
Wisconsin also got a 57-yard field goal from Welch on the last play of the first half. The field goal was the second-longest in school history.
Fresno State (1-1) dropped a heartbreaker to Wisconsin for the second consecutive year. The Bulldogs fell 13-12 in Fresno in 2008, a game in which Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling missed three field goals.
Interceptions Costly to Bulldogs
Goessling missed a 45-yarder on Saturday, but he did boot a 41-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Wisconsin got the ball first in overtime, and went up 31-24 on a 6-yard TD pass from Tolzien to Nick Toon. Fresno State matched it with a 7-yard scoring pass from Colburn to Seyi Ajirotutu.
Fresno State started with the ball in the second OT, and Colburn fired for Chastin West in the end zone. But Maragos leaped in for the interception.
It was the third interception thrown by Colburn. That proved to be the difference, as neither side committed any other turnovers.
And it dampened what was an otherwise productive performance by Colburn. The junior, making his second collegiate start, was 22-for-36 passing for 289 yards and four touchdowns.
Badgers Overcome Shaky Start
Colburn threw to West for a 13-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then hooked up with Devon Wylie on a 70-yard pass play to put Fresno State up 14-0 early in the second.
Wisconsin closed the gap to 14-7 on an 11-yard run by Zach Brown, but Colburn and Ajirotutu connected on an 8-yard TD pass to push the margin back to 14. The Badgers closed within 21-14 on an 8-yard touchdown by David Gilreath.
Welch, who had missed a 47-yard field goal early in the second quarter, pulled his team within 21-17 with his 57-yarder. It was set up by a 44-yard pass from Tolzien to Isaac Anderson.
A scoreless third quarter saw Colburn intercepted by Niles Brinkley and Antonio Fenelus, but Wisconsin failed to cash in.
In the fourth, Clay burst through the Bulldogs line, and bolted down the right sideline for a 72-yard TD that put Wisconsin ahead for the first time -- 24-21, with 5:45 to play.
After an exchange of punts, Fresno State drove 25 yards to set up Goessling's tying field goal, and the game went to overtime.
O'Brien Schofield Lifts Wisconsin Defense
Linebacker O'Brien Schofield led Wisconsin with 11 tackles. The 6-foo-2, 248-pound senior had four tackles for losses, including a sack.
Badgers linebacker Jaeve McFadden added 10 tackles, and also had a sack; and Brinkley contributed seven tackles and a pass breakup.
Anderson was Wisconsin's leading receiver with four catches for 70 yards.
Fresno State outgained its Big Ten Conference opponent 468 to 413 in total yards. Ryan Mathews rushed 19 times for 107 yards, Wylie had five catches for 114 yards, and Ajirotutu made six receptions for 83 yards.
The Bulldogs defense got 15 tackles from junior linebacker Ben Jacobs, and two sacks from defensive lineman Chris Carter, who had six tackles total.
Fresno State Faces Showdown With Boise State
Fresno State will return home for a Friday, Sept. 18 matchup with No. 12 Boise State. The game, scheduled for 9 p.m. EST, will be telecast on ESPN.
Wisconsin will conclude its three-game season-opening homestand with a Saturday, Sept. 19 meeting with Wofford. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon EST.
Saturday's win made the Badgers 3-1 all-time vs. Fresno State.
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