Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer scrambles from defensive lineman Mike Newkirk at the football game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Hoyer threw for 323 yards, two touchdowns and completed 22 of 36 passes.
MADISON, Wisc. – Penalties and two failed midfield conversions late in the game turned an MSU upset into an MSU tragedy as the Spartans lost to No.-9 ranked Wisconsin 37-34.
Badgers kicker Taylor Mehlhaff kicked three field goals, including the game-winner with 6:15 left to play. Three MSU (4-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) penalties – including a roughing the passer call at the Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0) 28-yard line on a third-and-14 incomplete – allowed the Badgers to score the final field goal.
“All and all guys, it’s a game of inches,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “Depending on one play out there, this way or that, and we had a chance to win the football game.”
The Spartans had almost tied the game late in the fourth quarter on a 53-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Brett Swenson. MSU was forced to kick after a run by junior running back Javon Ringer on third-and-six went for one yard.
“Brett (Swenson) had been pretty good all day,” Dantonio said. “He made them in practice. We had the wind. I felt he was good from 48 yards out in pre-game.”
MSU’s defense forced Wisconsin to punt on the ensuing possession, giving the Spartans one last chance to tie the game. On a fourth-and-two play from the Wisconsin 38-yard line, junior quarterback Brian Hoyer threw a pass that went off of freshman wide receiver Mark Dell, turning the ball over on downs.
The teams combined for 1,025 yards, with Ringer supplying 147 rushing yards on 10 carries and 88 receiving yards on seven catches. Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill gained 162 yards and scored two touchdowns on 34 carries.
Hoyer threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked five times. Badgers quarterback Tyler Donovan amassed 247 yards through the air and two touchdowns.
MSU was without freshman cornerback Chris L. Rucker when a referee ejected him and Wisconsin wide receiver Marcus Randle El for personal foul penalties in the second quarter. Sophomore cornerback T.J. Williams – who played cornerback for the second time in his career Saturday – replaced Rucker and picked off a pass at the MSU goal line on the same drive.
The Spartans erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, tying the game 34-34.
“Even though we were down 10 at one point, we came back and tied it up,” Hoyer said. “No one gave up. We played until the last play and we played as hard as we could.”
Wisconsin scored the first touchdown of the game on a 5-yard Hill run, but MSU answered with two touchdowns by senior running back Jehuu Caulcrick to go ahead 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
MSU then let up two consecutive touchdown passes by Donovan to fall behind 21-14. The Spartans completed an 80-yard screen pass to junior wide receiver Devin Thomas on the first play from scrimmage on the next drive to tie the game 21-21. Thomas led the Spartans with 111 receiving yards.
Wisconsin scored two field goals to end the half, putting the Badgers ahead 27-21. MSU responded with a field goal of their own to open the second half, but Wisconsin came back with a touchdown to go up 34-24 on its next possession.
MSU resumes play Saturday against Northwestern at Spartan Stadium.
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