Badgers' running game lays MAC down on ...owl Classic win | Sports Radio America

1/5/2017 Badgers' running game lays MAC down on Broncos in Cotton Bowl Classic win | Sports Radio America

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The College Credit Hour

Badgers' running game lays MACdown on Broncos in Cotton BowlClassic win

written by Marcus S. Marion, Columnist, Photo by Allen Praytor/Jenal Images on Tue, Jan 03, 17

ARLINGTON, Texas — While half of the 59,615 was the Bronco faithful screaming "Row the Boat," theother sat silently confident — like it knew the outcome before the final whistle sounded.

Before P.J. Fleck and the Broncos met in Monday's Cotton Bowl Classic, the MidAmerican Conferencedefeated the Big Ten only once in more than 50 years.

Wisconsin, by beating Western Michigan University 2416 at AT&T Stadium, made sure the Broncoswouldn't repeat Bowling Green State University's fourpoint victory over Northwestern University in 2003. Tune In

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At least not yet.

"It means a ton. This is the last time this team plays together and to be able to get a win against a goodteam means a lot," Head Coach Paul Chryst said. "I thought our team was kind of who they are. We allthought all along for our team to be the best it can be, we need everyone. Today was an example. Weneeded a lot of guys."

With the help of Corey Clement (22 rush, 71 yds, 1 TD), Dare Ogunbowale (5 rush, 22 yds, 1 TD) andJazz Peavy (3 rush, 50 yds) the Badgers' rushing attack proved trying to keep pace with Wisconsonwasn't easy.

The Badgers racked up 245 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in the first 24 minutes behindscores by Clement and Ogunbowale. The duo's totals doubled Western Michigan's combined rushingyards in the first two quarters.

The Badgers, which opened the game with a 6:08 touchdown scoring drive, also helped snap WesternMichigan's 13game winning streak and made sure the MAC left Texas 01.

"I was just wide open. I didn't get touched," Clement said about his first quarter scamper. "That's why Ithank those big boys up front. I was going to hit [the hole] 100 miles per hour and see what happened. Bythe time I lifted my head up, I was crossing the goal line. We didn't underestimate Western Michigan —on either side of the ball. We knew they were coming in looking for a victory just like us. They came in hotand you had to respect their style of play."

The defense, too, limited the deadly Bronco passing attack led by 6foot3 and 215pound projected NFLfirstround draft pick Corey Davis and 6foot2 and 176pound Carrington Thompson.

Much of their frustration was courtesy of Sojourn Shelton and Natrell Jamerson, who held Davis to asingle reception and 22 yards and Thompson to nine yards by the time the first quarter ended. Byhalftime, Davis and Thompson had a combined for only 54 yards on five receptions.

"It's really all of us, honestly," said Shelton, the Badgers' strongside cornerback, before the game. "Wereally play well together. The defensive line makes plays. The linebackers make plays and the secondarybacks all of them up. Our ability to create turnovers — I think we're at 21 [for the season]— is what's beenour strength."

The defense, led by Vince Biegel, Garret Dooley, T.J. Edwards and T.J. Watt, forced three turnovers viatwo fumbles and an interception. Six receptions, 83 yards and a touchdown by Troy Fumagalli, recipientof the Sanford Trophy for the most Oustanding offensive Player, or 11for12 passing for 159 yards byBart Houston didn't hurt either.

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While Western Michigan tried to write its future, Wisconsin leaned on history. In 11 college football gamesthis season, the Badgers were 92 when leading at halftime and 182 overall under Chryst's guiding hand.

Fiftyone of the 80 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classics — including eight of the last nine — were won by theteam leading at halftime. Wisconsin, which pounded the football relentlessly, raised that number by one.

"We ended up getting beat. We did some critical things at some critical times. I think we had four[fumbles] and the interception," Fleck said. "When you do that against the sixthranked team in thecountry that's what happens. They played their style of football better than we played our style of football.You got to give them all the credit in the world because they're well coached. They're an incredible teamand, now, Cotton Bowl champs."

Western Michigan ensured that the road to the twisted silver trophy wasn't a cake walk through anuntested MAC team simply happy to be involved in the Cotton Bowl conversation.

On the first drive of second half, the Broncos closed within a touchdown after a 10yard scramble by ZachTerrell, a 17yd reception by Corey Davis, a 23yard run by Jarvion Franklin and Butch Hampton's 27yardfield goal, then stuffed Ogunbowale to force a threeandout.

Terrell's only mistake in a sea of gutty scrambles to extend plays — including during the 16play and 75yard drive capped by a Davis touchdown — was finding T.J. Edwards instead of one of his ownreceivers.

It only takes one to shift the momentum of a football game.

The interception, an errant throw on 1st and 10 snatched out of the air by Edwards, a Wisconsinlinebacker and McKnight Trophy (Outstanding Defensive Player) awardee, came seconds after theBronco defense forced the Badgers to punt with Western Michigan trailing by only a touchdown.

"I'm just proud of the way they played," Chryst said about his defense. "To win a game against a goodteam, you need a lot of plays. We made enough. So many guys were a part of a real good defense thatwas fun to watch. The Cotton Bowl has been unbelievable and to win it means a lot."

Marcus S. Marion is an awardwinning columnist with Sports Radio America. Follow him on Twitter@MarcusMarionWNI and @MarcusMariondeux on Instagram.

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Badgers' running game lays MAC down on ...owl Classic win | Sports Radio America

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