Lee Evans was spectacular. The Wisconsin Badgers' defense was anything but.
Evans, a junior from Bedford, Ohio, had a career-high 228 receiving yards and three touchdowns on nine pass receptions in UW's game against the Michigan State Spartans Saturday, but the Badgers' porous defense made Evans' efforts pointless, as UW lost its Homecoming game to the Spartans 42-28.
\I'm even surprised at this,"" senior defensive lineman Wendell Bryant said. ""I thought we were a better team [than Michigan State].""
Evans became the Badgers' all-time single-season receiving yardage leader with his performance, catching touchdown passes of 42, 30 and 70 yards. The three receiving touchdowns also tied UW's single-game mark, as Evans matched the three-touchdown games of Dave Howard (1955) and Pat Richter (1961).
""I'm definitely proud of what I was able to accomplish and what we were able to achieve as a team,"" Evans said.
UW redshirt freshman running back Anthony Davis also became the Badgers' ninth consecutive 1,000-yard rusher, gaining 101 yards on 32 carries.
While the offense played well, UW's defense, which gave up 401 yards to Illinois' Kurt Kittner last week, struggled again Saturday, giving up 326 passing yards to Michigan State sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker.
Smoker threw for three touchdowns on the game, as Spartans sophomore wide receiver Charles Rogers, who matched up with freshman cornerback Scott Starks for the most of the afternoon, hauled in five passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
""It was no different than [defending] anybody else,"" Starks said. ""He played well, didn't he?""
Despite the lopsided final score, the game was close during the first two quarters. After stalling on its first two drives, the Badgers' offense got rolling on its third possession, as sophomore quarterback Jim Sorgi heaved a 42-yard touchdown pass to Evans.
""Lee Evans is really a good receiver,"" UW Head Coach Barry Alvarez said. ""I like my chances in a jump ball with him.""
Michigan State answered right back, driving 50 yards in three minutes to tie the game at 7-7 on senior tailback T.J. Duckett's one-yard scamper into the end zone.
On Wisconsin's next drive, the Badgers had the ball at the Spartans' 43-yard line. On second-and-eight, Sorgi scrambled out of pressure and instead of running for the first down, he threw a pass to senior fullback Chad Kuhns, who was covered by sophomore cornerback Tyrell Dortch. Dortch intercepted the pass, ending the Badgers' drive.
""There's no reason to force anything,"" Alvarez said. ""I just thought it was a poor decision.""
However, Michigan State couldn't take advantage of the interception and, two possessions later, Sorgi again found Evans for a 30-yard touchdown pass that put the Badgers up 14-7.
Then, with a little more than a minute remaining, Smoker found Charles for a five-yard touchdown.
UW got the ball back with 1:02 remaining on its own 21-yard line with three timeouts remaining.
After Davis lost two yards on a run to the outside, the Badgers decided to kneel on the ball and run out the clock instead of setting up for a field goal or a touchdown.
UW offensive coordinator Brian White said the team's strategy was to ensure a tie going into the half.
""We felt it was good going into halftime [with a tie],"" White said.
The Spartans came out roaring in the second half, outscoring the Badgers 21-7 in the third quarter en route to the victory.
The loss was the second in a row and third in the last four games for the Badgers, who dropped to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten.
""I'm very frustrated,"" senior linebacker Nick Griesen said. ""I'm at a loss for words.""
In order to qualify for a post-season bowl game, UW has to win its final three games. Two of the Badgers' final three games are at home, as they face Iowa this weekend and Michigan Nov. 17 before traveling to Minnesota Nov. 24 for their last game of the season.
While the prospect of winning out may be a big challenge for the Badgers, Evans said the team has to stay focused and prepare for one game at a time.
""We've got to do whatever it takes to win the next game,"" Evans said.
