Wisconsin Tops Number 12 ranked Michigan
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by Behbigben15
The Michigan Wolverines suffered their 3rd loss on the season after losing 37-21. Wisconsin extends their home win-streak to 14 games, as they improved to 8-3. Chad Henne, Michigan's Senior starting QB, attempted just five passes, and was replaced by true-Freshman QB, Ryan Mallet, in the second quarter. As expected by many, Mallet struggled, throwing 2 INT, as he hooked up with Michigan's star WR, Mario Manningham, just twice, though two of those times went for TD's (12-yds, 97-yds). Mallet attempted to lead the Wolverines to a late scoring drive deep in their own territoey, but threw an incomplete pass on 4th & 20.
With Mike Hart still out due to injury, Michigan lacked a running game, as they ran the ball just 25 times for 47 yards for 1.9 YPC, and zero TD's. Michigan turned the ball over three times (3 INT's: Mallet 2, Henne 1). Mallet's play wasn't all bad, he set a school record for longest TD pass with a 97-yard hookup with Mario Manningham in the 4th quarter to pull within 9 points. Mallet threw 3 TD passes, with 2 INT's, but completed 11 passes out of his 36 attempts. He averaged 6.8 yards per completion, as he threw for 245 yards.
Everything went well for Tyler Donovan, and his 8-3 Wisconsin Badgers. Donovan, Wisconsin's Senior QB, went 14-27, 245 passing yards, and 1 TD (no INT's). He was hit by the opposing defense 15+ times, and was finally hit hard enough to knock him out of the game with seven and a half minutes to go in the game. Zach Brown, Wisconsin's RB, who was replacing the regular starter, P.J. Hill, who only carried the ball 5 times for 14 yards, ran for 108 yards, and 2 TD. Brown was the key to the game, and he sealed the deal with his 6-yard TD, and his 2-yard TD run with under 4 minutes to go.
Michigan's eight-game win streak ended, as they fell to 8-3, which will probably knock them down to at least 15 in the AP Top 25 Poll. And, with Wisconsin's win (now, also 8-3), they may find themselves in the AP Top 25 Poll. Donovon, and his WR, Paul Hubbard hooked up 7 times for 134 yards, he caught more passes today, then he had on the season (coming into today's game), Hubbard had 5 catches on the season before today, and he now has 12 on the season. Wisconsin's kicker, Taylor Mehlaff, had a great day as well. Mehlaff went 3 for 3 in FG's (27, 40, 19), and 4 for 4 in XP's. It has been a great day for Wisconsin Football, as Wisconsin erased Michigan's potential comeback with an INT, after the Wolverines had scored 14 unanswered points to make it a 23-21 game early in the fourth quarter. Not only did Wisconsin beat the Number 12 ranked team in the Nation, but their School's best RB of all time, Ron Dayne, was honored during halftime. Dayne's numbered was retired, and his name, and number are now on display in Camp Randall Stadium.
