Oct. 22, 2005
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Wisconsin Badgers' much-maligned defense picked up the slack for a surprisingly spotty offense and faulty special teams in a 31-20 win over Purdue on Saturday.
Safety Roderick Rogers returned an interception 84 yards for a touchdown that sparked No. 19 Wisconsin (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten), which became bowl eligible in coach Barry Alvarez's 16th and final season. Cornerback Jake Ikegwuonu added two interceptions, including a game-sealing pickoff that he returned 62 yards for a score with 3:21 left.
In all, the Badgers had 146 return yards off their three interceptions of redshirt freshman Curtis Painter, who replaced junior starter Brandon Kirsch at quarterback for Purdue (2-5, 0-4). However, Painter couldn't stop the Boilermakers' slide that has resulted in the first five-game losing streak in coach Joe Tiller's nine seasons.
The Boilermakers had scored 13 straight points and were threatening again when Painter made the mistake that kept the Badgers atop the crowded field of contenders in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin hadn't done anything on five straight offensive series and was trailing 13-10 when Painter tried to throw over Rogers to Dorien Bryant, who entered the day as the nation's second-leading wide receiver with 9.7 catches per game but was limited by Wisconsin to one catch for 28 yards.
Rogers made a leaping interception and zigzagged his way downfield, finding a clearing at midfield and trotting into the end zone with two teammates as escorts to give Wisconsin a 17-13 lead.
The recharged Badgers then forced a three-and-out and the offense kept the momentum up by going 63 yards in three plays for another score.
Running back Brian Calhoun, who had five catches for 78 yards and two TDs, made it 24-13 when he took John Stocco's pass over the middle, deked safety Brandon Whittington at the 15 and outraced three defensive backs into the end zone.
Calhoun, who had a 24-yard TD reception in the first half, gave the Boilermakers hope, however, with his first fumble of the year, which linebacker Stanford Keglar recovered at the Wisconsin 36 with 3:37 remaining.
But on second down, Ikegwuonu stepped in front of his man and went 62 yards to seal it.
Painter threw an inconsequential 4-yard TD pass to Dustin Keller with 3 seconds left.
Ben Jones gave Purdue a 13-10 lead midway through the third quarter with his third career 50-yard field goal, which capped a drive that began after his counterpart, Taylor Mehlhaff, was short from 50 yards, one of two misses by the Badgers' usually reliable sophomore.
Jones' 24-yard field goal with 56 seconds left in the first half sent the teams into the break tied at 10. It was set up by defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich's interception.
The Badgers jumped out to a 10-0 lead on Calhoun's first touchdown catch of the season, from 24 yards out, and Mehlhaff's 29-yard field goal.
Painter drove the Boilermakers 80 yards in 12 plays, capping the long drive with a 4-yard draw to make it 10-7. The Badgers lost linebacker Mark Zalewski to a knee injury on that series.
Calhoun finished with 62 yards on 20 carries.