COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Wisconsin Holds Off Injured Michigan : Big Ten: The Badgers improve to 7-1 behind Moss’ rushing, 13-10. Wolverine tailback Wheatley doesn’t play.
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin used Brent Moss’ seventh consecutive 100-yard rushing game and a key defensive stop in the final minutes Saturday to beat Michigan, 13-10, and stay in the running for the Rose Bowl.
“It was a huge win, the program has turned around,†Wisconsin quarterback Darrell Bevell said. “We wanted to make sure we got this one.â€
Wisconsin (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) next will play third-ranked Ohio State, also at Camp Randall Stadium, on Saturday. Whether Wisconsin is underdog or favorite doesn’t matter to its coach.
“I really don’t care how we’re perceived,†Coach Barry Alvarez said. “I know we’ve won seven, we’ve lost one. We’ve got three left. We’re still in the hunt.â€
The Badgers took a 13-3 halftime lead with a ball-control offense, scoring its second touchdown on an 80-yard drive that was capped by Terrell Fletcher’s 12-yard run with 38 seconds left.
Then the defense withstood a strong second half by Michigan (4-4, 2-3), which was led by quarterback Todd Collins.
The victory was Wisconsin’s first over Michigan since 1981 and ended a nine-game losing streak against the Wolverines.
“Our defense was kept off the field in the first half, and they were able to perform well when they had to in the second half,†Alvarez said.
“We didn’t make the plays we should have,†said Michigan Coach Gary Moeller, whose team played without injured tailback Tyrone Wheatley. “It’s obvious you are going to miss a guy like Wheatley. It hurt our football team, but we will should have won this game.â€
Moss, who had 128 yards in 26 carries, became only the fifth player in Wisconsin history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Larry Emery in 1985.
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