Junior RB Brian Calhoun rushed for 213 yards and a touchdown, and junior QB John Stocco threw for 301 yards and two scores, as the University of Wisconsin football team defeated seventh-ranked Auburn 24-10 Monday afternoon in the Capital One Bowl at Florida Citrus Stadium.
The Badgers (10-3) amassed 548 yards of total offense against a Tigers team (9-3) that entered the contest allowing just 294.09 yards per game, ninth best nationally. They did it behind Calhoun, who today became just the second player in Division I-A history to record 1,500 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in the same season.
They also did it through the strength, poise and agility of Stocco, who connected with Brandon Williams for 173 yards and one TD. That score moved Stocco to No. 1 on the single-season list for TD passes (20) at Wisconsin.
On defense, UW forced two turnovers and held Auburn RB Kenny Irons to 88 yards and no scores (he came in averaging 109.5) and QB Brandon Cox to 137 yards passing, one TD and one interception. As a team, the Tigers mustered just 236 yards of total offense, their lowest output all season and well below their 425.6-per game average.
In the first half, Wisconsin could almost do no wrong. DB Levonne Rowan stopped Auburn's initial drive with an interception, and Stocco's touchdown tosses to Williams and TE Owen Daniels, along with a Taylor Mehlhaff field goal, gave the Badgers a 17-0 lead at the break.
Although Auburn went on to score 10 points in the second half, Calhoun's 33-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter provided enough breathing room for the Badgers.
Stocco took a knee at the Tigers' 1-yard line as Wisconsin ran out the clock to hand head coach Barry Alvarez a triumph in his final game. UW improved to 8-3 in bowl games under Alvarez.
Game Notes
UW improved to 1-1-1 all-time against Auburn ' the victory gave Wisconsin a 10-win season for just the fourth time in school history ' the temperature at kickoff was 77 degrees with partly cloudy skies ' the Badgers, who entered the game with a Big Ten-best +12 turnover margin, forced two on Auburn's first two offensive plays (interception, fumble) ' DL Nick Hayden notched his team-leading third fumble recovery ' TE Jason Pociask also played some fullback ' Auburn, which entered the game having outscored its opponents 83-37 in the first quarter, was itself outscored 10-0 by Wisconsin. In addition, the Tigers came in with a 127-30 edge in the second quarter, but the Badgers outscored them 7-0 ' OL Joe Thomas also played on defense ' Alvarez finished his 16-year career with a record of 118-73-4 ' the triumph vs. No. 7 Auburn was UW's fifth over an AP top-10 team during the Alvarez era
Brian Calhoun Notes
' rushed for 213 yards vs. Auburn, the second-highest total in Capital One Bowl history.
' was named MVP of the 2006 Capital One Bowl, joining Brent Moss, Terrell Fletcher, Ron Dayne (three times) and Michael Bennett as Badger running backs who have been named bowl game MVPs.
' finished the 2005 season with 348 rushing attempts (a UW season record and seventh-most in Big Ten history); 1,636 rushing yards (fifth-most in UW history) and 22 rushing TDs (a UW record).
' finished the 2005 season with 53 receptions for 571 receiving yards (both season records for a UW running back).
' accumulated 2,207 all-purpose yards in 2005, second-most in school history.
' scored 24 total TDs in 2005, tied for most in a season at UW and tied for sixth-most in Big Ten history.
' scored 144 points in 2005, most in UW history and tied for sixth-most in Big Ten history.
' finished the season with nine 100-yard rushing games, tied for fourth-most in school history.
Brandon Williams Notes
' registered a Wisconsin bowl record for receiving yards with 173 vs. Auburn (previous record was held by Pat Richter with 163 yards vs. USC in the 1963 Rose Bowl).
' finished the season with 59 receptions for 1,095 yards, both third-most in UW history. He is just the second player in school history with a 1,000-yard receiving season (Lee Evans did it twice).
' finished his career with 202 receptions (most at UW and seventh-most in Big Ten history) for 2,924 yards (second-most at UW).
John Stocco Notes
' set school season records in 2005 for passing yards (2,920), passing touchdowns (21) and pass completions (197). His 328 pass attempts this season were second-most in school history.
' has thrown for 5,042 yards in his career, which ranks No. 3 all-time at Wisconsin. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
