Wisconsin Edges Minnesota in Wild Rally

Posted 4:34PM on Saturday 15th October 2005 ( 19 years ago )

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Jonathan Casillas blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone with 30 seconds left to complete a stunning rally and lift No. 23 Wisconsin to a 38-34 victory over No. 22 Minnesota on Saturday. With the Gophers leading 34-31, Justin Kucek lined up to punt at the Minnesota 5. Kucek dropped the snap, picked up the ball and tried to get the punt off, but Casillas raced through for the block. He then recovered it for the winning score. It was a shocking turn of events for the Badgers (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten), who appeared to be headed for their second loss in a row after failing to complete a comeback bid in last week's 51-48 loss at Northwestern. "When you think you've seen it all, you haven't seen it all," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said. The Gophers (5-2, 2-2) led 34-24 with 3:27 to play after Gary Russell's second touchdown of the day. But the Badgers came right back, driving 71 yards in 1:17 and pulling within 34-31 on John Stocco's 21-yard TD pass to Brandon Williams. Ken DeBauche's onside kick hit off of Minnesota's Trumaine Banks and was booted by a Badger all the way down the field. Laurence Maroney, who rushed for a career-high 258 yards, fell on the ball at the Minnesota 11. After running all over Wisconsin the entire game, the Gophers couldn't move the chains one last time, setting up Kucek's punt. Casillas' big play stunned the Gopher fans, and whipped the legion of red-cloaked Badger fans into a frenzy. Minnesota's Jakari Wallace fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and DeAndre Levy recovered. The Badgers ran out the clock and then paraded Paul Bunyan's Axe around the Metrodome turf. It would be hard to imagine a more improbable victory in this 115-year old rivalry. Tied at 10 at halftime, the Gophers completely controlled the action in the second half, rushing for an astounding 411 yards, including a career-high 139 yards from Russell. With redshirt freshman quarterback Tony Mortensen making his first career start for the injured Bryan Cupito, the Gophers called just four passes in the second half. Russell's first TD of the day, a 37-yarder, gave them a 27-17 lead late in the third quarter. Brian Calhoun, who rushed for all but 14 of his 110 yards in the second half, scored his third touchdown of the day on a 1-yard run in the fourth to make the score 27-24. But Minnesota responded with a 19-play scoring drive that chewed up 7:48. Russell's 1-yard run seem to vanquish the Badgers' hopes. Undaunted, Stocco - who threw a game-ending interception against the Wildcats last week - led the Badgers right down the field and Wisconsin's porous defense stiffened when it had to, despite giving up 724 yards rushing combined the last two weeks. The crushing loss overshadowed an electrifying day by Maroney, who had a 93-yard touchdown run, but also had a 14-yard score called back by a holding penalty in the third quarter. Jason Giannini missed a 40-yard field goal on the possession, giving the Badgers the opening they needed. © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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