Badgers block punt to cap late comeback
Wisconsin trailed Minnesota by 10 points before rallying late.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS -- Jonathan Casillas blocked a punt and Ben Strickland recovered it in the end zone with 30 seconds remaining to complete a stunning rally and lift No. 23 Wisconsin to a 38-34 victory over No. 22 Minnesota Saturday.
With the Gophers leading 34-31, freshman Justin Kucek (Canfield) lined up to punt at the Minnesota 5. Kucek dropped the snap, picked up the ball and tried to get the punt off, but Casillas raced through for the block. He then recovered it for the winning score.
It was a shocking turn of events for the Badgers (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten), who appeared to be headed for their second loss in a row after failing to complete a comeback bid in last week's 51-48 loss at Northwestern.
"When you think you've seen it all, you haven't seen it all," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said.
10-point lead lost
The Gophers (5-2, 2-2) led 34-24 with 3:27 to play after Gary Russell's second touchdown of the day.
But the Badgers came right back, driving 71 yards in 1:17 and pulling within 34-31 on John Stocco's 21-yard TD pass to Brandon Williams.
Ken DeBauche's onside kick hit off of Minnesota's Trumaine Banks and was booted by a Badger all the way down the field. Laurence Maroney, who rushed for a career-high 258 yards, fell on the ball at the Minnesota 11.
After running all over Wisconsin the entire game, the Gophers couldn't move the chains one last time, setting up Kucek's punt.
Iowa 38, Indiana 21
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Drew Tate threw two touchdown passes and Albert Young scored on a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter to help Iowa secure a victory over Indiana.
Iowa (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) survived a big game by Indiana's potent passing combination of Blake Powers to James Hardy to win its 22nd straight home game and keep pace in the conference race.
Hardy became just the fourth Indiana player to rack up more than 200 yards receiving in a game and Powers fired two touchdown passes, the second a 6-yard yarder to James Bailey that drew the Hoosiers (4-2, 1-2) to 24-21 with 9:51 remaining.
Tate then led the Hawkeyes on a quick 80-yard scoring drive to regain the momentum. He hit Scott Chandler for 37 yards on the second play and moments later, Young burst through a huge hole in the left side, cut to the sideline and outran the pursuit to the end zone.
After Indiana went three-and-out, Damian Sims scored on a 30-yard TD burst to finish it off for the Hawkeyes.
Northwestern 34, Purdue 29
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Tyrell Sutton scored from a yard out on fourth down with 1:50 remaining.
After Sutton scored, Purdue drove near midfield but Marquice Cole intercepted a pass by Brandon Kirsch with a minute remaining to secure the victory.
Northwestern (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) led 28-9 at the half, only to see Purdue storm back and pull ahead 29-28 before the Wildcats pulled together for the game-winning drive.
Brett Basanez threw for 463 yards and three touchdowns and ran seven times for 43 yards and a score as Northwestern piled up 603 yards. Purdue (2-4, 0-2), which totaled 505 yards, has lost four in a row after being ranked as high as No. 11.
Dorien Bryant led Purdue's comeback, and finished with a 16 catches for 153 yards -- both career highs. He also returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
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