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Badgers' surprises shouldn't surprise us THE VOICE MATT LEPAY • VOICE OF THE BADGERS a non-scoring play? W One of the top passing plays in history? Yeah, given the game's high stakes, I do not believe that is overstating the case. Hail Wilson-to-Duckworth. Officially, it was fourth-and-6 from the Michigan State 43-yard line. The Spartans led 39-34. It might not have been a "game on the line" play, but then again, maybe it was. Russell Wilson was flushed from the pocket and rolled to his left with the Michigan State defense was in hot pursuit. Wilson then did what he does so well. I would think it is difficult to find many college quarterbacks who can roll to his off-hand and throw as well as Wilson. Wilson let it fly deep to the right side. Waiting for the ball was sophomore receiver Jeff Duck- worth, and with two Spartans defenders near him, Duckworth pulled it down at the MSU 7-yard line. One play later, Montee Ball ripped through the line for what proved to be the game-winning, Big Ten title-clinching touchdown. But back to the catch. The Badgers talk a lot about receivers attacking the ball. That is exactly what Duckworth was able to do. It was one three catches he had on Saturday night. Those numbers give him a grand total of 15 recep- tions this season, and 18 for his career. Duckworth also scored the game's first touchdown. It was the 66 » VARSITY DECEMBER 8, 2011 ho knew that one of the top passes in Wisconsin football history would be first college touchdown. Michigan State has an outstand- ing defense. I doubt the Spartans expected Jeff Duckworth to be much of a factor in the passing game. That is the beauty of sports — it is never a bad idea to expect the unexpected. As I wrote last week, the recent history of games between these two teams has given us plenty of such examples. Now for True Confession Part I. At halftime, I thought the Badgers At halftime, I thought the Badgers had little if any chance. The offense was struggling. The defense could not get a stop. Silly me. Silly us — at least some of us. had little, if any, chance to win. I just did not like the matchup. After another hot start, the offense was struggling. Wisconsin's defense could not get a stop. Kirk Cousins was in rhythm with his receivers, especially B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin. Someone who must have been thinking the same thing asked me about spending late December in Tempe, Ariz., instead of Pasadena. Silly me. Silly us — at least some of us. In the second half, the defense allowed just 10 points against an of- fense that has been nearly as hot as Wisconsin's. It forced a three-and- out on the Spartans' final drive. Maybe just as important was the previous Michigan State series. Leading 38-36, the Spartans were on the move, and marched to the Wisconsin 8-yard line. The drive stalled, forcing a field goal to keep it a one-possession game. Time for True Confession Part II. While I avoid publicly predict- ing games I am announcing (kind of my own Broadcasting 101 rule), I thought there was no way the sec- ond Badgers-Spartans game could approach the original for drama. Silly me again. This game had just about every- thing. A fake PAT in the second quarter. A receiver who ad libs a lateral near the boundary that results in a touchdown. A running back completing a pass to his quar- terback (note: Montee Ball is now 2-for-2 as a passer this year). A quarterback with two receptions in the same game. A replay reversal in Wisconsin's favor and a special teams miscue that secured victory. I was worn out just watching it. Try to imagine how the players and the coaches felt after such a game. Even though I will admit to whiffing on my thoughts before and during Saturday's classic, please allow me to try one more time with this bit of "wisdom" — if Badgers- Spartans II exhausted you, make sure you are well-rested before the Rose Bowl. If ever a game had the potential to be even wilder, this might be it.