Victory enhances resume
Badgers pull away to improve their postseason hopes.
MADISON, WIS. — Alex Hornibrook’s 24-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Taylor in third quarter broke open a defensive duel, Kendric Pryor scored on an end-around and No. 5 Wisconsin beat No. 24Michigan 24-10 on Saturday to remain undefeated.
The Badgers (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) padded their playoff resume by winning a grinding, physical matchup against the Wolverines (8-3, 5-3).
Hornibrook finished 9 of 19 for 143 yards, but bounced back from an interception early in the third quarter with some of his best throws of the season.
“Sometimes adversity helps us play even harder and better. We were able to do that today,” Hornibrook said.
He connected with Taylor through a tight window in the end zone for a 14-10 lead with 3:31 left in the third quarter.
After a three-and-out for Michigan, Wisconsin’s Danny Davis made a one-handed catch with a defender draped on him for a 27-yard gain. Pryor followed with his 32-yard scoring run with 24 seconds left in the third for a two-score lead.
“Two big throws and then they got a few runs out, too,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “That ended up being the difference in the game.”
It took a while for the offense to get going. The defense stood firm most of the day.
Linebacker Leon Jacobs forced Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters to fumble at the Wisconsin 2 in the second quarter. The pressure picked up in the second half.
Peters had to be carted off the field in the third quarter after getting hit by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel following an incompletion on third-and-5 from the Michigan 30.
Without him, the already limited Wolverines didn’t have the firepower to come back from a double-digit deficit. The run game was held to 58 yards on 37 carries.
Defense gave Michigan its best chance to upset Wisconsin on the road, and it looked as if that might happen for two-plus quarters.
An athletic front controlled the line of scrimmage. Big Ten-leading rusher Jonathan Taylor had trouble finding holes.
Momentum turned after Hornibrook showed he could make clutch throws late in the third quarter.
“Keeping that mindset whether something’s going bad or something’s going well of not letting it affect me too much,” Hornibrook said. “Trusting yourself and trusting your guys to make some plays.”
Taylor finished with 132 yards on 19 carries, with 87 yards in the second half.
The teams played to a 7-all tie at the half, though Michigan had momentum after fullback Ben Mason scored on a 1-yard run with 2:24 left. Wisconsin was outgained 169-99 in the first half, its only score coming on Nick Nelson’s 50-yard punt return.
Takeaways
Michigan: Before his injury, Peters made some nice throws against the nation’s top-ranked defense, especially during the seven-play, 84-yard touchdown drive that ended with Mason’s touchdown in the first half.
Wisconsin: A second straight victory against a ranked opponent should look good to the College Football Playoff selection committee.