BIG TEN Wisconsin ruins OSU winning streak

The Badgers completed a 79-yard touchdown pass late to stun the Buckeyes.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MADISON, Wis. -- Snap!
Despite losing starting quarterback Jim Sorgi in the third quarter, No. 23 Wisconsin handed the No. 3 Ohio State football team its first loss since Jan. 1, 2002, ending the Buckeyes' 19-game winning streak on a rainy Saturday night with a 17-10 victory at Camp Randall Stadium.
"Very, very somber," is how Buckeyes punter B.J. Sander described the locker room mood. The loss "created a sinking feeling in [our] stomachs."
Badgers respond
Two plays after the Buckeyes tied the game at 10-10, backup quarterback Matt Schabert connected with Badgers wide receiver Lee Evans for a 79-yard touchdown.
With a burst of energy, Evans blew past cornerback Chris Gamble, hauled in the ball at the Ohio State 44 and raced untouched for a 17-10 lead with 5:20 remaining.
"It looks like we got bit on a double move," Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. "Lee is great on those and they executed."
After the Evans touchdown, the Buckeyes still had hope as quarterback Craig Krenzel completed a 15-yarder to flanker Santonio Holmes, then scrambled for 18 yards.
But after a short toss to tight end Ben Hartsock, the Buckeyes were penalized for holding. Krenzel's next two passes fell incomplete, setting up a punt with 3:27 to go.
Last possession
The offense never got the ball back.
Wide receiver Drew Carter said Krenzel "wasn't really rusty, he was just under a lot of pressure. It's kind of hard to throw the ball when you have someone in your face."
After an offsides penalty, the Buckeyes burned their final two timeouts before Schabert raced 6 yards for a first down at the 20.
Seconds later, tailback Booker Stanley, who finished with 125 yards, broke free for a 24-yard gain that ended the Buckeyes' dream of a repeat perfect season.
Saying nothing can be done about the 19-game streak ending, Tressel said, "We need to move on and do a better job next week."
How miserable was the Buckeyes' first road trip since the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl?
Krenzel, playing his first game since injuring his throwing elbow on Sept. 13 in the triple overtime win over North Carolina State, didn't complete a pass to a wide receiver until midway through the third quarter.
The Buckeyes converted only two of their first 10 third-down chances. Their rushing attack did little (69 yards on 26 carries).
The Buckeyes' run defense, which entered the game first in the nation (43.4 yards), gave up 61 alone in the third quarter by Stanley.
Still in the game
The Buckeyes made two big plays early in the third quarter, but produced no points.
Despite all that, the Buckeyes were still in the game with 8:14 remaining, trailing 10-3 when they took possession on their 25-yard line.
On third-and-9, Krenzel hit wide receiver Michael Jenkins with a 9-yard completion. One play later, Carter hauled in Krenzel's throw at the 6, setting up first and goal.
After an incompletion, Krenzel hit Jenkins in the end zone and Mike Nugent's extra point kick tied the score.
Stanley's 29-yard gain on the second play of the second half put the Badgers in Buckeyes' territory. But on the next play, cornerback Dustin Fox intercepted Sorgi's long pass at the 14.
Just when it appeared Lady Luck was back on the Buckeyes' sideline, she bolted across the field. After the Buckeyes downed Sander's 64-yard punt at the 1, the Buckeyes forced punter R.J. Morse to kick out of his end zone. Chris Gamble bobbled the catch and knocked it 10 yards the wrong way where Wisconsin's Matt Katula recovered at the Ohio State 38.
Mike Allen's 38-yard field goal with 5:09 to go in the third quarter put Wisconsin ahead, 10-3.
Turnover
In the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes were driving until Leonhard picked off an underthrown pass by Krenzel at the Wisconsin 23.
Despite being dominated for most of the rain-soaked first half, the Buckeyes kept the game close thanks to a dropped punt in the second quarter.
Leonhard couldn't hold on to Sander's 38-yard punt and Jason Bond recovered at the Wisconsin 19.
Tailback Maurice Hall gained 8 yards on his first carry of the night, but his second try was stuffed for no gain. On the run from linebacker LaMarr Watkins' blitz, quarterback Craig Krenzel hit a sliding Hartsock for a 1-yard gain.
On fourth-and-1 from the 9, the Buckeyes gambled and Krenzel lunged ahead for a first down.
But his next two runs only gained 1 yard each and after an incomplete pass to wide receiver Bam Childress in the end zone, Mike Nugent kicked a 24-yard field goal for Ohio State's only first half score.
The Buckeyes' offense struggled throughout the first half. Krenzel completed 4-of-9 passes, all to Hartsock for 34 yards.
Ohio State0307--10
Wisconsin0737--17
Second Quarter
Wis--Stanley 2 run (M.Allen kick), 14:54.
OSU--FG Nugent 24, 4:02.
Third Quarter
Wis--FG M.Allen 38, 5:09.
Fourth Quarter
OSU--Jenkins 6 pass from Krenzel (Nugent kick), 6:09.
Wis--Evans 79 pass from Schabert (M.Allen kick), 5:20.
A--79,793.
OSUWis
First downs1213
Rushes-yards26-6948-141
Passing202158
Comp-Att-Int14-26-17-10-1
Return Yards126
Punts-Avg.7-44.36-40.0
Fumbles-Lost2-12-1
Penalties-Yards7-513-15
Time of Possession25:4934:11
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Ohio State, Ross 7-28, Krenzel 11-19, Hall 6-17, Schnittker 2-5. Wisconsin, Stanley 31-125, Schabert 3-16, Bernstein 2-5, Sorgi 5-1, Smith 5-(minus 1), team 2-(minus 5).
PASSING--Ohio State, Krenzel 14-26-1-202. Wisconsin, Sorgi 5-7-1-54, Schabert 2-3-0-104.
RECEIVING--Ohio State, Hartsock 5-41, Jenkins 4-48, Carter 3-90, W.Allen 1-15, Hamby 1-8. Wisconsin, Williams 5-57, Evans 1-79, Orr 1-22.
williams@vindy.com