After watching Alabama handle San Jose State 48-3 last week and seeing the Badgers beat UNLV 41-21 in Las Vegas, many thought this game would be a similar blow-out. Instead, the Badgers just couldn’t seem to open up their lead, leaving San Jose State hanging around until the end of the game. The Badgers were able to win 27-14, but it certainly was not pretty.
Just like last week, the Badger offense marched down the field on their first drive for a one-yard touchdown by RB John Clay. The touchdown run capped off a 10 play, 77-yard drive. Opening drives have not been a problem for the Badgers, as they have now scored on every opening drive this season. However, it is finishing that seems to be their problem.
By: Justin Mertes-Mistretta
The story of the game for the Badgers was missed opportunities in the red-zone. On their second drive of the game, freshman RB James White took a hand-off down to the one yard line where he was met by San Jose State S Bene Benwikere, forcing a fumble for a touch-back. “I got too excited,” White said. “I should have just kept going and lowered my shoulder.”
Head coach Bret Bielema understands that White is a true freshman and is still a work in progress. “Here at Wisconsin, we run the ball in, not reach it in,” Bielema said. “He’ll learn.”
The red-zone struggles continued for the Badgers as QB Scott Tolzien fumbled twice inside San Jose State’s twenty yard line (both were recovered, but one was for a turnover on downs and the other forced the Badgers to settle for a field goal).
“We had way too many turnovers in the red-zone today,” Bielema said. “If it was one guy committing all the turnovers, I’d be concerned. It’s just situational things that we have to focus on in team meetings.”
In the first half, the Badger defense kept form of last week, when they held UNLV to 217 yards of total offense. Saturday, Wisconsin held San Jose State to two three and outs on their first two drives. On the Spartans third drive, Badger LB Blake S0rensen picked off QB Matt Faulkner, which led to TE Lance Hendricks’ touchdown from the arm of Tolzien.
On San Jose State’s last drive of the second quarter, a pass interference call on Wisconsin DB Niles Brinkley set up a 43-yard field goal attempt for the Spartans. However, the field goal was blocked by Badger DL J.J. Watt, which kept the score at 7-0 in favor of the Badgers. Coach Bielema couldn’t have been happier with Watt’s play on special teams.
“J.J. is an unbelievable competitor,” Bielema said. “He was the first one out on the field for special teams. He is really taking that role in stride and inspires the guys on and off the field.”
Right before halftime, the Badgers were able to get a 45-yard field goal from the leg of K Philip Hughes. The kicker finished with a pair of field goals (45-yards and 37 yards).
“I asked Phil [Hughes] what his range was like before the game,” Bielema said. “He told me, ’60 yards going both ways.’ He was serious.”
The Badgers forced the Spartans to punt on their first possession in the second half. Instead of calling for a fair-catch, returnman David Gilreath tried to field the punt. He was hit by a defender in the side of his helmet, leaving him motionless on the field. It was a scary moment that left the 78,469 fans in attendance speechless.
“It was difficult to just pick up and start playing after that,” Bielema said. “It really interrupted the flow of the game. Any time you have a player who is that close to everyone it’s tough.”
Gilreath was taken to a hospital and reportedly suffered a concussion. He was released around 4:45 PM, which is great news for Gilreath and the Badgers.
The injury to Gilreath added to the slew of Badger injuries, most notably LB Chris Borlan and WR Nick Toon, who are feeling progressively better according to Coach Bielema.
Looking as though they were going to pull away, leading 20-0, the Badgers threw an interception on their own 46 yard line, which led to a two-play touchdown drive by San Jose State.
Wisconsin answered back with a John Clay touchdown, his second of the day. Clay finished the game with 137 rushing yards on 23 carries, marking his eighth-straight game of 100 or more rushing yards.
Surprisingly, the Spartans of San Jose State just wouldn’t go away, taking this game into the later minutes of the fourth quarter. After a score by San Jose State WR Noel Grigsby narrowed the score to 27-14, the Spartans nearly recovered an onside kick. However, it was called back due to an offsides penalty, ending San Jose State’s hopes of an upset victory.
The Badgers may have finished the game with a win, but the players and coaches both know this was a disappointing win, if there is such a thing.
“We’re happy we got a win, but we definitely have a lot of things to improve on,” Tolzien said.
“We’re going to come out next week better than we are this week,” Watt added. “All you can ask for is a chance to get better. We have Arizona State coming up at home, so hopefully we are better next week.”
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