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Wisconsin Knocks Off No. 13 Michigan

POSTED: 8:15 pm EST November 10, 2007

(Sports Network) - Tyler Donovan threw for a touchdown and ran for a score before leaving the game with a hand injury, and freshman Zach Brown scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal Wisconsin's 37-21 victory over 13th-ranked Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium.

Donovan completed 14-of-27 passes for 245 yards and added 49 yards on the ground for Wisconsin (8-3, 4-3 Big Ten), which extended its home winning streak to 14 games. Donovan was hurt in the fourth quarter.

Brown ran for a career-high 108 yards on 27 carries, as P.J. Hill missed most of the contest with a leg injury that also kept him out of last week's game against Ohio State. Hill got a few carries in the opening stages of the second half after backup Lance Smith left with an injury and finished with 14 yards on five attempts.

Michigan (8-3, 6-1) had an eight-game winning streak stopped and lost for the first time since starting the season with consecutive losses to Appalachian State and Oregon. The Wolverines, despite the loss, can still claim at least a share of the Big Ten crown and earn the conference's automatic BCS bowl bid with a home victory next week against Ohio State.

The Wolverines played without star tailback Mike Hart, who sat with an injured ankle, while quarterback Chad Henne lasted just two series before leaving with a nagging shoulder injury. He completed 3-of-5 passes with an interception for 28 yards and surpassed John Navarre as Michigan's all-time leader in passing yards.

True freshman Ryan Mallett finished 11-of-36 passing for 245 yards with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions for Michigan, which mustered just 47 yards on the ground.

Adrian Arrington hauled in seven passes for 101 yards with a score in defeat and Mario Manningham finished with 113 yards on just three receptions, two of which went for scores.

Michigan trailed 23-7 entering the fourth quarter, but started a comeback early in the stanza when Manningham hauled in a 20-yard pass from Mallett and turned it into a 97-yard touchdown for the longest play from scrimmage in school history.

The Wolverine defense forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense, but Mallett tried to throw deep on the first play after the punt and was picked off by Shane Carter at the Wisconsin 24.

Wisconsin again failed to successfully move the football and punted it back to Michigan. The Wolverines cashed in soon after.

Mallett was about to be sacked on 3rd-and-10, but quickly tossed the ball back to Carson Butler, who found room along the right sideline and picked up 16 yards. A defensive holding penalty and a 14-yard carry by Brandon Minor then set up Mallett's 26-yard scoring toss to Arrington, who made a diving catch in the end zone to pull the Wolverines within 23-21 with 7:31 to play.

Michigan again got the ball at its own 12 with 5:46 remaining and quickly moved to the 30-yard line, but it quickly blew up from there. Mallett was sacked for a 20-yard loss on second down, then was picked off by Jack Ikegwuonu.

The Badgers, with Donovan on the sideline, converted soon after when Brown crashed into the end zone on a six-yard run to increase the lead to 30-21.

Michigan failed on fourth down from inside its own five on the next series and Brown scored on a two-yard run on the next play to seal it for the Badgers.

"This is a win," Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema said. "Its a win thats going to count the same as any other win. Obviously, any time you play Michigan in this conference, for what theyve done speaks volumes."

Wisconsin dominated on the ground with 232 yards and kept the ball for more than 38 minutes.

"I think Wisconsin did an outstanding job," Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr said. "They did a great job of running the football and they did a great job of defending the run. We just were not able to get them off the field."

The Badgers came up with the first turnover of the game when Carter picked off a Henne pass midway through the first quarter. The Wolverines appeared to get it right back on the next play when Jamar Adams intercepted Donovan, but Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable was called for a personal foul penalty when he hit the quarterback in the helmet.

Wisconsin took full advantage and needed just five plays -- with a second Crable personal foul penalty -- to score. Donovan capped the quick series when he rolled right and threw back to the left side of the end zone for a 10-yard connection with Travis Beckum.

A 34-yard pass to Beckum and an 11-yard run by Donovan on the next Wisconsin drive set up a 27-yard field goal by Taylor Mehlhaff just over two minutes into the second quarter.

The Badgers got the ball right back after a Michigan punt and marched 59 yards for another touchdown. Donovan again keyed the series with an 18-yard run and a 24-yard pass to Beckum, then raced two yards into the end zone to give Wisconsin a 17-0 advantage with 7:46 to play in the half.

Michigan finally answered just over three minutes later when Mallett threw a quick hitch to Manningham, who made a quick move at the line of scrimmage and ran 12 yards to the end zone. Mallett completed four passes during the 80-yard drive after hitting just two throws on his first two possessions.

Wisconsin, though, tacked on a 40-yard Mehlhaff field goal in the final minute to head into the locker room with a 20-7 cushion.

Mehlhaff kicked a 19-yard field goal on Wisconsin's initial possession of the second half, but only after the Badgers were unable to punch the ball into the end zone on a pair of tries from the one-yard line.

Game Notes

Wisconsin went unbeaten at home for the second consecutive season and last accomplished that feat in 1950-51...Beckum finished with six catches for 106 yards, while Paul Hubbard hauled in seven passes for 134 yards in the victory...Michigan's previous longest passing play was a 90-yard connection from Todd Collins to Derrick Alexander against Illinois in 1993. The longest rushing play is 92 yards by Butch Woolfolk against Wisconsin in 1979...The Badgers honored 1999 Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ron Dayne during a halftime ceremony, retiring his number 33.

Michigan

News

Michigan
The NCAA on Thursday decided to deny an appeal requested by quarterback Ryan Mallett, who transferred from Michigan to Arkansas this year, seeking to reinstate him for the upcoming season.

Scoreboard

Tue, Jan. 1FINAL
Michigan (8-4) 41
Florida (9-3) 35

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