Wisconsin can’t break through at Rose Bowl
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| Oregon coaching staff and players directs linebacker Michael Clay (46) to get after a Wisconsin fumble during the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl game in Pasasdena, Calif., Monday. Oregon defeated Wisconsin, 45-38. (Orange County Register/MCT photo by MICHAEL GOULDING) |
PASADENA, Calif. (MCT) — Wisconsin’s brief but satisfying tradition of winning Rose Bowls, established during Barry Alvarez’s 16-year run as head coach, is history.
For the second consecutive season, Wisconsin came to Pasadena with an opportunity to end its Rose Bowl drought by beating a quality opponent.
For the second consecutive season, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and his players made critical errors and left this storied stadium after suffering a crushing defeat.
Sixth-ranked Oregon used an explosive offense and an opportunistic defense that forced two second-half turnovers and held on for a wild 45-38 victory Monday in front of a crowd of 91,245.
“Obviously not an outcome that we’re happy with,” Bielema said after seeing Wisconsin’s final offensive possession die at the Oregon 25 as time expired when quarterback Russell Wilson spiked the ball with a second left. “Something that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives and entire coaching career for me.
“I’ve been out here twice and (lost) two games that are incredible football games.”
Despite surrendering 621 yards to Oregon, including 345 rushing, and despite Wilson getting sacked on fourth down in Oregon territory early in the third quarter and then throwing a costly interception in UW territory late in the quarter, the Badgers had an opportunity to force overtime.
Trailing, 45-38, they took over at their 13-yard line after a punt, with 16 seconds left and no timeouts.
Wilson, who completed 19 of 25 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns, hit wide receiver Jared Abbrederis for 29 yards to the 42.
Abbrederis stepped out of bounds with nine seconds left and Wilson then hit Nick Toon for 33 yards to the Oregon 25 with two seconds left.
UW hurried to the line of scrimmage and Wilson spiked the ball with a second left but the referee ruled time expired. A video review upheld the call and the game was over.
“I knew there was two seconds left on the clock,” Wilson said. “As soon as the referee blew the whistle, I snapped it and spiked it. I didn’t think there was any way that two full seconds ran off the clock there.”
Oregon finished 12-2 with coach Chip Kelly’s first bowl victory in three tries.
“It’s awesome,” said Kelly, who gave Oregon its first Rose Bowl title since 1917. “It’s the whole organization. It’s the fans. It’s the players. It’s the coaches and this is something special.”
Not for UW, which suffered a 21-19 loss to Texas Christian here last season.
Ninth-ranked UW finished 11-3, and Bielema’s bowl record slipped to 2-4. Remember that Alvarez posted an 8-3 bowl record, including 3-0 in the Rose Bowl.
“I’m kind of tired of tears of sadness,” Bielema said. “I wanted to come out here and experience tears of joy.”
UW shed more tears because of breakdowns on offense, defense and special teams.
Oregon scored 45 points and rolled up more than 600 yards despite holding the ball for just 24:18, though 10:09 of that came in the fourth quarter when the Ducks outscored UW, 10-0.
Tailbacks LaMichael James (25 carries, 159 yards and one touchdown) and De’Anthony Thomas (two carries, 155 yards and two touchdowns) combined for 314 of the Ducks’ 345 rushing yards. De’Anthony Thomas scored on runs of 91 yards, a Rose Bowl record, and 64 yards.
“De’Anthony Thomas is special,” Bielema said. “Obviously, LaMichael is very special. But we knew going into this game. We talked about tackling, but on a couple of those plays . . . nobody put a hand on (them).”
Quarterback Darron Thomas made one crucial mistake when he overthrew De’Anthony Thomas deep in UW territory, and safety Aaron Henry intercepted the pass with the Badgers clinging to a 38-35 lead.
However, he completed 17 of 23 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Two of the touchdown passes were to wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei, who gave UW fits and finished with eight catches for 158 yards.
Tuinei had a 3-yard touchdown catch with 30 seconds left in the first half to help the Ducks forge a 28-28 tie.
He caught an 11-yard touchdown pass with 14: 35 left in the game to help the Ducks take the lead for good, 42-38.
And he had an 8-yard catch to the UW 22 to convert a fourth-and-6 play and set up a 30-yard field goal by Alejandro Maldonado to close the scoring with 6:50 remaining.
“For a senior, sometimes you get those moments and he had a signature moment,” Kelly said of Tuinei. “What an unbelievable way to end his career and his performance here in the Rose Bowl. Just really proud of him.”
