ORLANDO, Fla â_ The UW football team rushed for negative five yards, allowed 257 yards on the ground and did not score in the second half of Monday's Capital One Bowl. Yet somehow, despite the numbers, the Badgers (12-1) took home their second straight Capital One Bowl victory, defeating Arkansas (10-4) 17-14.
With the victory, the 2006-07 Badgers become the only Wisconsin football team to ever win 12 games in a season.
""We couldn't ask for a better way to go out, as the winningest team in Wisconsin history,"" said senior safety Joe Stellmacher, who had six tackles (two for loss) in the last game of his career.
""It feels unbelievable,"" senior quarterback and Capital One Bowl MVP John Stocco said. ""This is by far the best group of guys I've played with.""
Stocco ended the game with 206 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, but virtually all his success came in the first half. He connected with sophomore tight end Travis Beckum and junior wideout Luke Swan for touchdowns and carved up the Razorback secondary for 171 yards in the half.
The Wisconsin defense started off with some rust, giving up a 45-yard run to Heisman candidate sophomore running back Darren McFadden on the first drive, but Arkansas missed the ensuing field goal. After UW junior kicker Taylor Mehlhaff put Wisconsin up 3-0 with a career-long field goal, the defense gave up a 76-yard touchdown scamper by sophomore running back Felix Jones.
But from there on out, the defense held strong, allowing only seven points the rest of the way. McFadden and Jones combined for 252 yards rushing, but were largely held in check for all but three drives. The much-maligned Razorback air attack was also stopped, as Arkansas quarterbacks combined for a mere 136 yards and two interceptions on the day.
""We knew [the pressure] was on us for the second half,"" senior safety Zach Hampton said. Hampton had an interception and five tackles in relief of injured senior safety Roderick Rogers.
With the win, Wisconsin could end the season in the top three in the polls, and the Badgers are certainly optimistic for next season.
""The future is bright, there are so many good younger players on this team,"" Stocco said. ""I think they can take it to the next step.""
