Wisconsin rallies late to beat Fresno St.

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Posted 6:54AM on Saturday, August 24, 2002

MADISON, WISCONSIN - Bernard Berrian didn't stick around long enough to burn Wisconsin again. With Berrian sidelined by an injury, Mike Allen's 34-yard field goal with 2:05 left gave the 25th-ranked Badgers a 23-21 victory over Fresno State on Friday night in the second annual John Thompson Foundation Classic. Sophomore strong safety Jim Leonhard, the anchor of the Badgers' retooled secondary, had two interceptions and added a game-saving breakup on the Bulldog's last-gasp pass. On fourth-and-19 from his 41, Fresno State quarterback Jeff Grady, who replaced David Carr, the top pick in the NFL draft, threw a laser pass that Leonhard knocked from Marque Davis' hands. Otherwise, the Bulldogs would have had a first down at the 35 and a chance for their second straight victory at Camp Randall Stadium. Last year, Berrian racked up 300 all-purpose yards against the Badgers and it was his 96-yard touchdown return of the second-half kickoff that sparked the Bulldogs to a 32-20 victory, one of the biggest in school history. He was off to another fine start Friday night when he sprained his right knee on the final play of the first quarter and didn't return. Three minutes before Allen's game-winning field goal, he missed from 46 yards. But an offsides penalty on Fresno State kept the drive alive. Grady put the Bulldogs ahead 21-20 with a 23-yard TD pass to Alec Greco with nine minutes left. The score came two plays after Badgers backup Jerone Pettus fumbled at his 26 and Bryce McGill recovered for Fresno State. The Badgers sorely missed Lee Evans, their all-time leading receiver who is out until October with a knee injury, but Anthony Davis rushed 37 times for 184 yards and freshman fullback Matt Bernstein scored twice before hyperextending a knee in the third quarter. Berrian, among the nation's premier receivers and returners, was injured when he was smothered by Jason Pociask on a 1-yard punt return at his 11. He had two catches for 54 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown reception for the game's first points. Three plays after Berrian went out, Fresno State center Rodney Michael snapped the ball over Grady's head and defensive end Jake Sprague recovered at the 1. Bernstein took it in from there to tie it at 7. The Badgers made it 10-7 on Allen's 27-yard field goal after a touchdown by Davis was negated by Tony Paciotti's hold. Asen Asparuhov's 55-yard attempt fell short as the first half expired. Neither team was sharp in the earliest start in either school's history. It was only the fifth night game ever at Camp Randall, The Bulldogs, who have blocked 36 punts and kicks in the last five seasons, committed two penalties on punts that allowed the Badgers to retain possession in the first half and jumped offsides on Allen's missed field goal in the closing minutes. Sam Williams recovered a fumble by Davis at the Badgers' 15 and five plays later, Grady hit Adam Jennings with an 8-yard scoring strike that put the Bulldogs on top 14-10 in the third quarter. The Badgers responded with a 65-yard drive capped by Bernstein's second TD, a 3-yard rumble that put Wisconsin ahead 17-14. Allen's 35-yard field goal made it 20-14 with 11:50 remaining.