No. 24 Wisconsin holds off Indiana rally 31-28
AP Sports Writer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 24 Wisconsin followed the same old script to grind down Indiana.
John Clay ran for 134 yards and a touchdown, Montee Ball scored two TDs and the Badgers held off the Hoosiers' fourth-quarter rally for a 31-28 victory Saturday.
Indiana running back Darius Willis (28) is brought down by Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland (44) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)
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The Badgers (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) have now won two straight and still have not lost to an unranked team this season.
Indiana's fading bowl hopes took another hit. The Hoosiers (4-6, 1-5) must now win their final two games — at No. 11 Penn State and home against rival Purdue — to become eligible. They have lost three straight and six of seven.
A year after having three 100-yard runners and 441 yards on the ground in Bloomington, Wisconsin went right back to work.
Clay produced all of his numbers in the first half, when the Badgers ran for 196 yards. Clay didn't touch the ball in the second half, working out on a bike on the sideline, despite needing 27 yards to become the Big Ten's first 1,000-yard runner this season.
Instead, Ball took over the workload. He finished with 27 carries for 115 yards and his 3-yard TD run with 8:18 to go was the decisive score.
Wisconsin finished with 294 yards on the ground — giving them 735 yards rushing in the last two games against Indiana.
Quarterback Scott Tolzien was 11 of 20 for 194 yards with one TD, and Nick Toon caught five passes for 123 yards.
But somehow Indiana continued to hang around.
After trailing 24-14 at halftime, Terrance Turner caught a 6-yard TD pass to make it 24-21 early in the fourth quarter. It became the first official touchdown of Turner's career after he had one taken away by replay last week at No. 7 Iowa.
Bell answered with his second scoring run Saturday to make it 31-21, and then Indiana closed to 31-28 when Trea Burgess scored on a 2-yard TD run with 4:02 to go.
But Indiana kicked deep and never got the ball back.
Ben Chappell was 25 of 35 for 323 yards with three TDs and one interception for Indiana. Tandon Doss caught six passes for 92 yards and two TDs, and the Hoosiers lost top running back Darius Willis with what appeared to be a right leg injury early in the second half.
Wisconsin played most of the game without starting right tackle John Oglesby after he appeared to hurt his left leg.
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