Donovan helps Badgers open season with rout of Cougars

Sep 2, 2007, 0:06 GMT

Madison, WI - Tyler Donovan passed for 284 touchdowns and three touchdowns and ran for another score as seventh-ranked Wisconsin defeated Washington State, 42-21, at Camp Randall Stadium.

Donovan was 19-of-29 passing and P.J. Hill rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries and two scores for Wisconsin (1-0). Luke Swan pulled in eight catches for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

'We came ready to play,' said Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema. 'I saw some positive things out there and we were able to win a football game.'

Alex Brink was 17-of-27 for 171 with a touchdown pass and Dwight Tardy had 21 carries for 96 yards and a score for Washington State (0-1).

'Hats off to Wisconsin,' said Washington State head coach Bill Doba. 'They played a heck of a ballgame and they're a good football team. They did like we thought they might do and wore us down. We competed with them early.'

Washington State got the ball to start the game and wasted little time putting points on the board. Brink completed three passes on the opening drive and Tardy capped the series by running for a nine-yard touchdown to give the Cougars the early advantage.

Wisconsin quickly came back to tie the contest at 7-7 when Donovan hit Swan for a five-yard score, capping a nine-play, 61-yard drive.

In a back-and-forth start to the game, the Cougars came right back and answered with another seven points. Brink continued his fine play, hitting Charles Dillon with a 13-yard pass and, after three productive rushes by Tardy, Brink ran for 27 yards, taking the ball down to the Wisconsin four yard line. Christopher Ivory then ran it in from four yards out to put WSU ahead 14-7.

The see-saw affair continued on the Badgers next possession. After a fine kick return by David Gilreath and a 15-yard penalty against Washington State that put the ball on the Cougars 47, Donovan completed a 22-yard strike to Paul Hubbard and Hill ran three of the next four plays including a one-yard score to knot the game at 14 late in the first quarter.

Both teams tightened up the defense on the next few possessions, but Wisconsin struck again midway through the second stanza. The Badgers needed only three minutes to find the end zone again as Donovan hooked up with Garrett Graham for an 11-yard touchdown to give the home team its first lead of the day at 21-14.

After an exchange of punts, the Badgers got the ball on their own 47 with only 45 seconds left in the half. Donovan connected with Travis Beckum on a 15-yard gain, then found Swan for a 38-yard score to increase Wisconsin's lead to 28-14 heading into the half.

Washington State managed to cut the deficit to seven midway through the third quarter when Brink went to work and led a 42-yard, nine-play drive that was capped off when the quarterback tossed a seven-yard strike to Brandon Gibson, making it 28-21.

Hill rushed for his second score of the contest, a two-yard scamper on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving the Badgers a two-touchdown advantage.

With the Cougars near midfield on their ensuing possession and looking at a fourth-and-two situation, Darryl Blunt dropped back to punt, but the snap appeared to be mishandled and the kicker tossed the ball up for grabs and was intercepted by Aaron Henry, who brought it back 26 yards to the Wisconsin 49. Donovan orchestrated an effective drive and took it in for one-yard keeper, giving the Badgers a commanding 42-21 lead.

Game Notes

Wisconsin will play at UNLV on September 8, while WSU will host San Diego State...Ivory finished with 29 yards rushing on seven carries and a touchdown...Graham caught three balls for 38 yards and a score.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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