Indiana University
Wisconsin
Hoosiers Fall to Badgers
9/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 30, 2006
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana Hoosiers suffered a 52-17 loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 30 at Memorial Stadium. The Badgers improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, while the Hoosiers fell to 2-3 and 0-1 in the conference.
The loss offset a career-best 100 yards rushing from junior fullback Josiah Sears.
Indiana opened the game with a strong defensive effort, forcing Wisconsin to punt, but the Badgers' running back P.J. Hill put Wisconsin on the scoreboard first with a one-yard touchdown run.
The Badgers struck again with 1:39 left in the first quarter as quarterback John Stocco found tight end Travis Beckum on a 35-yard pass, resulting in the 14-0 lead. With 10:22 left in the second quarter, Stocco hit Hubbard on the 15-yard pass for his second touchdown toss of the contest.
The Badgers followed that score with another two minutes later to increase their lead to 28-0. Stocco notched his third touchdown pass, finding tight end Andy Crooks on the short three-yard pass.
Indiana sustained a 12-play, 59-yard drive down to the Wisconsin 21, but quarterback Kellen Lewis' fourth down pass intended for wide receiver James Hardy fell incomplete.
Wisconsin closed the first half by scoring from one yard out as Hill punched through the young Hoosier line for his second rushing score of the game and the 35-0 advantage with 1:52 remaining in the first period.
Early in the fourth quarter, Indiana used 12 plays and moved 77 yards to put sophomore kicker Austin Starr in position for the 27-yard field goal.
On the next possession, it was the Hoosier defense's turn to step up. Grosfield notched Indiana's fifth return for a touchdown this season after freshman safety J.T. Owens forced a Wisconsin fumble. Grosfield's first-career return for 15 yards cut the score to 52-10. Additionally, Owens' forced fumble is the first of his Hoosier career.
The next Indiana possession, Lewis handed off to junior fullback Josiah Sears on three consecutive plays, including a 19-yard run, to move down the field for the score. With 3:25 remaining in the game, Sears' punched in an eight-yard run for his second rushing touchdown of the season to shorten the Wisconsin lead to 52-17.
Indiana hits the road for its second Big Ten contest of the season as the Hoosiers travel to Champaign, Ill., to take on Illinois. Game time is slated for noon on Oct. 7.
