Arizona State’s upset bid over 11th-ranked Wisconsin fell short, as Jay Valai blocked a game-tying extra point try to give the Badgers a 20-19 win.
Cameron Marshall scored a 2-yard touchdown, which capped off a nine-play, 77-yard drive, to cut the Badger lead to 20-19 with just 4:09 left in the game. But Valai penetrated though the line to block the ensuing point after kick.
Wisconsin then sealed the deal when Scott Tolzien connected with Lance Kendricks for 17-yards on a crucial third-and-two, enabling the Badgers (3-0) to run out the clock, and leaving the Sun Devils (2-1) heartbroken.
ASU quarterback Steven Threet completed 21-of-33 passes for 211 yards, and nearly completed what would have been his second comeback win over Wisconsin. Threet defeated the Badgers in 2008, when he was a freshman at Michigan.
The Sun Devils were competitive all game long. No team ever led by more than seven points.
With the game tied at 13, the Badgers began asserting the run game, as they drove 88-yards in eight plays, capped off with an 19-yard touchdown run by reigning Big-10 Player of the Year, John Clay.
But the Sun Devils responded, led by Threet, as they went six plays and 20-yards to cut the lead to 20-19. But Valai made the huge stop for Badgers, which ultimately salvaged what was a terrible day of special teams.
Omar Bolden returned a kickoff 97-yards for a touchdown, and Kyle Middlebrooks appeared headed for a 95-yard touchdown before he got tackled at the 1-yard line. The Sun Devils nearly got another special teams touchdown in the first half, but a punt return was called back due to a penalty.
As tough of a loss as it is for the Sun Devils, they can not afford to get hung up since the 5th-ranked Oregon Ducks visit Tempe next week. ASU will be in Corvalis the week after, to take on the 24th-ranked Oregon State Beavers.
This entry was posted on Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 12:17 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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