All season, the Wisconsin Badgers had an inconsistent offense and a fairly dominating defense.
In their finale against USC in the Holiday Bowl, the offense more than did its part and the defense closed the door as Wisconsin held off the Trojans, 23-21.
Wisconsin had no turnovers -- entering the game, the Badgers were 9-0 with a zero or plus turnover differential and 0-3 when having a minus turnover differential -- and made just enough plays to keep drives alive.
Defensively, the Badgers didn't allow too many big plays -- the longest play for USC's high-powered offense was 39 yards -- while stymieing the Trojans' run game and getting decent pressure on QB Cody Kessler. And in the end, it was the defense which had to make plays and preserve the two-point win, although USC helped on its last play, throwing short of the sticks and to the sideline on a fourth down (turns out Kessler and his wide receiver changed the play, which was supposed to be a Hail Mary. Imagine the vitriol on social media if Wisconsin's QB did that).
In the end, while it wasn't one of the celebrated Jan. 1 bowl games, it was an entertaining game and one in which the Badgers proved their mettle after an up-and-down season.
A recap of Wednesday's game:
CLASS LESSONS
-- Corey Clement didn't take the field until Wisconsin's fourth play. Head coach Paul Chryst said there was no pre-determined plan for Clement; he'd let the game dictate. Clement ended up with a career-high 19 carries, although he was hurt on his last one and done for the game.
-- With Clement out of the lineup, Wisconsin gained just 98 yards on 25 plays, a 3.92 average (not counting the end-of-game kneeldown). In the first half, Wisconsin averaged 6.1 yards per play.
-- Everyone knew Alex Erickson was Wisconsin's top receiver. He corralled five catches in the first half -- but none in the second, leaving him one shy of Jared Abbrederis' single-season record. But we also learned Wisconsin might have a good No. 1 receiver for 2016 as Rob Wheelwright returned after missing two months with an injury and caught four passes for 47 yards, including a great one-handed grab and a clutch third-down reception. Before this season there was concern as to who would be the top guy once Erickson left. This game helped show to whom the baton will be passed.
-- In the first half, Wisconsin had 4th-and-1 and 4th-and-2 situations from around midfield and chose to punt both teams. Ditto late in the fourth quarter, punting on 4th-and-1 to give USC one last possession. Compare that to last season's bowl game, with Barry Alvarez as coach, when Wisconsin was 3-for-3 on fourth downs (twice on 4th-and-1 plays and the other on 4th-and-5 late in the game while driving for the tying score).
-- Joel Stave's touchdown to Austin Traylor was a great play call. It came one play after Clement left due to injury. Alec Ingold -- known to be a goal-line, inside rusher -- was in the backfield. USC clearly keyed on him, enabling Traylor to slip into the end zone uncovered after a fake block for an easy catch-and-throw TD. While the tight ends might not have produced as expected, based on Paul Chryst's previous history at Wisconsin, they went out with somewhat of a bang as Traylor and Troy Fumagalli combined for five receptions.
-- Taiwan Deal didn't have a carry until late in the fourth quarter, with Wisconsin trying to run out the clock. He had a tough run which nearly resulted in a first down, but regardless Wisconsin sure showed a lot of confidence in the redshirt freshman going with him over Dare Ogunbowale with the game on the line (and Clement hurt).
-- We don't blame refs for losses (or helping with wins) here. However, Wisconsin sure saw its fair share of interesting calls this season and the Holiday Bowl brought two more. The most obvious one was when Tanner McEvoy, running out of the wildcat, ran downfield by the USC sideline and was called out of bounds. Replay showed he clearly did not step out. However, because the ref blew the whistle, the play could not be reviewed (and if it was, where would the ball be spotted? McEvoy stopped running as well, although he had a clear path to the end zone). Clearly, the ref shouldn't have blown his whistle if he wasn't sure. However, this is a game refereed by humans and perhaps he thought it was clear McEvoy stepped out -- after all, the game operates at a face pace. Yes, it was the wrong call, but unfortunately people make mistakes. I'm sure we all wish he just swallowed his whistle. If Wisconsin had lost, we'd never hear the end of this play. A few plays later, there was an egregious (in these eyes) non-call. With Bart Houston in, he threw a bit off-target to Erickson, who was clearly being tackled before the ball arrived, but no pass interference was called. No one wants a game bogged down by replay on every play or every situation, but clearly there's still a lot which needs to be fixed.
DULY NOTED
-- Jack Cichy not only had an impressive hat trick of sacks, but also the three sacks were the most by a Badgers player in any bowl game. The previous high was two done by three players. He barely missed a fourth sack in the fourth quarter, but Cody Kessler escaped and completed a pass.
-- Wisconsin didn't allow a score on an opponent's opening drive all season.
-- Joel Stave became just the sixth Wisconsin quarterback to throw for 200 yards in a bowl game (it was the seventh time overall as John Stocco did it twice). It was also Stave's 18th 200-yard game, passing Stocco for the most in Badgers history.
-- Stave also tied Russell Wilson for most completions in a season in Wisconsin history.
-- McEvoy ran the wildcat four times. He had the one (controversial) 19-yard run, but gained just six yards on the other three. His four rushes were his most in a game all season. Expected to provide a boost to the receiving corps, McEvoy had more carries (17) than catches (10) this season. In fact, he caught passes in just four games, and none in the last two.
-- After the game, junior linebacker Vince Biegel announced he'll be returning to Wisconsin in 2016. There had been some talk he might enter the NFL Draft.
-- Finally, the stat everyone loves: Stave passed Brooks Bollinger for first place on UW's all-time wins as a starting quarterback list (with 31).
WHAT IT MEANT
Certainly, USC wasn't a powerhouse this year. But this was a talented team which plays in a good conference. And Wisconsin hadn't beaten a team with a winning record all season. A victory solidified the Badgers weren't just some mediocre team which beat up on the weak and helpless. It also established, for those who didn't believe, that the Badgers defense indeed was one of the best in the country. Back-to-back bowl wins and another trophy for the case isn't bad, either.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
I didn't want to give this to someone who only played one half, but it is hard to overlook the way Jack Cichy played. After having to sit out the first half because of the targeting call he received in the season finale at Minnesota, Cichy was like a man possessed in the final two quarters. His three sacks on three consecutive plays (surrounded by an illegal snap penalty) was impressive enough, but despite playing only have the game, Cichy led Wisconsin in tackles with nine. He also had perhaps the play of the game (more on that below).
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME
Has there ever been a bigger lightning rod at Wisconsin than Joel Stave? Love him or hate him -- and there always seemed to be no in-between -- his detractors even had to be impressed with his performance against USC. Stave completed 18 of 27 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown and, perhaps most importantly, no interceptions. He had one or two passes off target, but made a number of great throws. Stave kept Wisconsin in the game -- bloodied (after being stepped on) but unbowed -- and certainly didn't cost the Badgers with any of the mistakes he was prone to make during his time at UW. A great ending for the one-time walk-on quarterback.
THAT MOMENT
When Wisconsin took its 23-21 lead, there was still 2:27 left on the clock, plenty of time. But Cichy was once again the man of the hour. After a Cody Kessler run of 4 yards and a first-down pass of 7 yards to Taylor McNamara to the Trojans 36, Cichy once again got close to the quarterback on a pass play, this time not sacking Kessler but -- even better -- hitting his arm as he threw, forcing an errant pass which was cradled by Sojourn Shelton for an interception. While the Badgers weren't able to kill the clock, they did leave USC just 39 seconds with the ball at its own 10-yard line after a punt and penalty. That interception helped seal the deal.
THIS NUMBER
286 -- USC's total yards of offense. The Trojans previous low in a game this season was 333 yards. USC was averaging 34.9 points and 449.6 yards per game coming into the bowl game. Quite a job by Dave Aranda's crew, which had a stellar season.
THEY SAID IT
"Overall a lot of guys chipped in and that's what was fun about it." -- Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst
"On film we saw their A gaps were open on pass pro so (defensive coordinator Dave) Aranda schemed up blitzes to attack that deficiency, I guess. One time would be great, but three times is kind of luck of the draw." -- Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy on his three sacks
"The team that made the least amount of mistakes won the game." -- USC head coach Clay Helton
WHAT'S NEXT
Wisconsin put a wrap on 2015 with its 10th victory. Paul Chryst's second season as head coach of the Badgers will be with a new quarterback -- among other players. Next year's schedule is much tougher and Chryst -- and Badgers fans -- also will have to wait and see if defensive coordinator Dave Aranda leaves for greener pastures. But, hey, let Chryst enjoy this win for now. He earned it.
