COLUMBUS, Ohio'After a tough loss to Indiana Oct. 6, Wisconsin found its confidence in Ohio Stadium.
The Badgers traveled to Ohio State Saturday and proved they still have what it takes to survive in the Big Ten, as the jubilant and relieved Badgers defeated a shocked and disappointed Ohio State team, 20-17.
Ohio State took the early lead when a four-minute, 32-yard drive resulted in a field goal.
UW then took the reins, but was unable to capitalize and was forced to punt.
OSU relied heavily on its tailbacks'freshman Lydell Ross and senior Jonathan Wells'to score the next touchdown, making the score 10-0.
After a UW punt early in the second quarter, OSU scored another touchdown on an 11-play, 80-yard drive.
OSU continued its dominance throughout the first half. In the second quarter, junior quarterback Brooks Bollinger was intercepted by OSU junior cornerback Derek Ross at OSU's 35-yard line.
However, Ohio State turned over the ball after just five plays and 10 yards when senior quarterback Steve Bellisari threw an interception to safety Michael Broussard.
A 16-yard pass to senior wideout Nick Davis, along with runs by redshirt freshman running back Anthony Davis, brought UW to OSU's 21-yard line.
However, UW sophomore placekicker Mark Neuser missed a field goal and allowed the Buckeyes to take over on offense. After a 10-yard run by Ross brought the ball to the OSU 32-yard line, OSU was called for a critical holding play, driving them back 10 yards.
A bad snap to Buckeye junior punter Andy Groom gave Wisconsin the ball at OSU's 23-yard line. Anthony Davis scored on the next play, cutting Ohio State's lead to 17-7, seconds before halftime.
In Alvarez's mind, Davis' touchdown was the shot in the arm his team needed.
'I thought [the bad snap late in the second quarter] gave us momentum,' Alvarez said. 'We saw a light at the end of the tunnel because we were down just 10 points and we were getting the ball [to start the third quarter].'
Bollinger used his arm and his athletic ability early in the second half, as he led the Badgers on a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. A 42-yard touchdown pass from Bollinger to Nick Davis brought the score to 17-14.
The Badgers continued dominating the second half when Wisconsin scored on a 10-play, 55-yard drive. Nick Davis ran for a 19-yard kickoff return and Bollinger connected with junior wide receiver Lee Evans on a 30-yard pass to bring Wisconsin into field goal range.
Neuser then kicked a 25-yard field goal to tie the game.
Ohio State continued its downward spiral and was forced to punt once in the fourth quarter. At this point in the game, OSU lost momentum. Two sacks on Bellisari and an OSU fumble diminished the team's spirits and energized the Badgers.
The Buckeyes' second drive in the fourth led to a 48-yard field goal attempt by freshman kicker Josh Huston, but the kick veered to the right and OSU stayed tied with the Badgers.
'We just didn't play through the end,' Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel said. 'We got up by 17 points and ...Wisconsin turned it up at that point and we didn't.'
Neuser got one more chance to prove himself late in the fourth, when the Badgers brought the ball to OSU's 16-yard line.
Neuser split the uprights from 33 yards out and gave Wisconsin its first and last lead of the game.
Bollinger, for one, was glad to leave Columbus with any kind of victory.
'We're at a stage right now where we just needed something,' Bollinger said. 'We needed a win, badly.'
