They were hoping to get a boost from the return of former coach Jerry Kill, who was forced to retire earlier this season after being unable to control the seizures caused by his epilepsy.
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Jerry Kill was back at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the first time since retiring October 28.
The turnover battle opened in Minnesota’s favor when the Badgers’ first play of the game resulted in an interception that Briean Boddy-Calhoun returned for a touchdown. But most importantly, the Badgers retained Paul Bunyon’s Axe. Normally teams need six wins to be bowl-eligible, but five wins might sneak in a powerful conference such as the Big Ten.
What followed was considerably more encouraging for Wisconsin, which all but abandoned its passing game for long stretches and decimated Minnesota’s defense with an impressive rushing attack. Wisconsin’s pressure forced 3 Mitch Leidner interceptions and Wiscosnin also forced 2 fumbles as well.
With the game tied 14-14 in the second quarter, Leidner was stripped by Joe Schobert, and Hillary Darius recovered.
Dare Ogunbowale rushed for 161 yards, Taiwan Deal gained 92, and Wisconsin piled up 257 yards on the ground to run its winning streak over the Gophers to 12 straight games. Wisconsin burned over a minute off the clock, and Minnesota got the ball back with just over a minute remaining. Ogunbowale had 132 yards rushing, the team…199 and Minnesota had 42.
Kill, who compiled a 29-29 record in four and a half seasons at Minnesota, shook the hand of every senior in the tunnel as they were announced on Senior Day, before leading the Gophers onto the field for their game vs. heated rival Wisconsin.
The Gophers offense struggled today only getting 276 total yards with 223 of them coming from the pass game.
Following the Gopher pick-6, the Badgers scored touchdowns on four of their next five possessions. Wisconsin had 101 rushing yards on 21 rushes on those scoring drives. The offense sputtered from there and the defense let Minnesota creep back, but two interceptions by senior safety Tanner McEvoy helped seal the win.
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This run-pass balance was a disparity from what the Badgers had done this season. Rodney Smith’s six-yard run tied it 14-14. The Gophers missed out on the first of those and now must wait to hear their bowl game fate. Stave does, by virtue of the win, tie for first place in victories all time by a Wisconsin quarterback. “Then the offense being able to drive the ball down the field, run the ball efficiently, all day actually from that point on, was a big key and we kind of felt the tide turning”. Kill then waved a “JerrySota” flag in front of the student section right before kickoff.
