Nov. 14, 2009

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MADISON, Wis. -- Scott Tolzien threw four touchdown passes and ran in another score as No. 21 Wisconsin defeated Michigan, 45-24, in front of 80,540 fans during the Badgers’ final home game of the 2009 season at Camp Randall Stadium.

Tolzien finished with 240 passing yards and tied his career best with four TDs through the air. Sophomore running back John Clay eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, finishing with 151 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Montee Ball also added 62 rushing yards on 16 carries as Wisconsin accumulated 229 yards on the ground.

Wisconsin’s 45 points is the highest total for any Badgers team against the Wolverines in the history of the teams’ series.

Michigan was limited to just 71 yards on the ground, but finished with 194 yards through the air. Quarterback Tate Forcier went 20-of-26 for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Tolzien’s first TD pass of the day came on the Badgers’ opening drive. After two Clay rushes, Wisconsin faced third-and-6 when Tolzien fired a 22-yard pass to Garrett Graham for the score. The touchdown capped off a five-play, 80-yard drive that took just 2:07 to complete.

Michigan responded though, using an 11-play, 74-yard drive that was capped off by a Forcier 21-yard TD pass to Vincent Smith. The Wolverines had the opportunity to go on top by the end of the first quarter, but J.J. Watt blocked a Michigan field goal attempt and the score remained 7-7 heading into the second period.

Shortly after, Michigan took its first lead of the game at 10-7, this time converting on a 37-yard field goal. On Wisconsin’s next possession, the Badgers faced fourth-and-20 from the Michigan 45 and brought the punting unit in.

Brad Nortman got the punt off, but he was hit by a Michigan player and a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave Wisconsin the ball back at the Michigan 30. Five plays later, Tolzien found Nick Toon in the end zone for an 8-yard TD to put the Badgers up, 14-10.

The Wolverines responded with a defensive touchdown as, on Wisconsin’s next possession, Tolzien was sacked and Ryan Van Bergen returned it 14 yards for the touchdown to put Michigan back in the lead at 17-14.

That would be Michigan’s final lead of the game, however, as Wisconsin outscored the Wolverines 31-7 the rest of the way. Tolzien made up for the fumble on the next drive, throwing two long passes to set up Clay’s 1-yard TD run, which gave the Badgers a 21-17 lead going into halftime.

The Badgers extended their lead to 28-17 during the opening drive of the third quarter, as Tolzien found Toon again in the end zone. Toon made a highlight-reel catch, reaching over a defender who actually was flagged for pass interference and caught the ball over the defender’s back, tiptoeing along the side of the end zone.

Michigan scored its final touchdown of the game as Forcier found Roy Roundtree in the end zone to put the score at 28-24. Wisconsin didn’t let Michigan hang around, though, and used an eight-play, 66-yard drive that culminated with Tolzien’s fourth TD pass of the day. This time, he found Lance Kendricks for a 7-yard score.

The Badgers’ defense then stepped up on the next play as Niles Brinkley intercepted a Forcier pass. Wisconsin then turned the pick into points in the fourth quarter as Tolzien scored on a 1-yard TD run.

Michigan went three-and-out on its next drive and the Badgers ate up 8:01 of clock before scoring off a 28-yard field goal by Philip Welch to go up by the final margin.

Michigan had one last opportunity, but came up empty as Wisconsin tallied just its 13th win in program history against the Wolverines.

UWBadgers.com Complete Post-Game Coverage

Badger Bits  |  Senior leadership helps Watt and Brinkley against Michigan  |   In-Game Blog

Video Highlights  |  Wisconsin vs. Michigan Player Interviews

Wisconsin closes the 2009 Big Ten season on the road next weekend at Northwestern. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Evanston and will air live on the Big Ten Network.