Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Spartans Stunned In Final Seconds
10/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 14, 2000
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- It was easy to see why Wisconsin and Michigan State entered Saturday's game without a Big Ten win.
Both teams ruined chances to score while giving the other team opportunity after opportunity, just as they had done in previous games.
Wisconsin's backup quarterback Jim Sorgi, seizing a final chance to break open a game tied at 10, threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Lee Evans with 29 seconds left as the Badgers beat Michigan State 17-10 on Saturday and ended a three-game losing streak.
Wisconsin (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) kept the Spartans (3-3, 0-3) from winning their first conference game for new coach Bobby Williams.
Sorgi, who grew up in the Detroit suburb of Fraser, was surrounded by family and friends after the game.
"This is like a dream come true," Sorgi said. "To play my first game, back in Michigan, at Michigan State, with my family and friends here, and to throw the winning touchdown pass with a minute left. It doesn't get any better than that."
Starting quarterback Brooks Bollinger, 0-for-6 in the first half, sustained a concussion and was replaced by Sorgi at halftime. The redshirt freshman, playing for the first time, completed his first three passes and finished 7-of-15 for 96 yards with one touchdown.
On the play before Sorgi's pass to Evans, Wisconsin running back Michael Bennett leaped over a pile of players for a first down on a fourth-and-1. Bennett gained 59 yards on 23 carries and was a yard shy from becoming the first Badger to reach 1,000 yards rushing in less than seven games.
"Well it wasn't a pretty win, but nonetheless it was a win and it was something that our team desperately needed," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said.
It was a must-win game for the Spartans as well, especially with five difficult games remaining on the schedule, starting at Michigan next week.
For the second straight game, Michigan State easily outgained its opponent, but couldn't score enough to win. The Spartans outgained the Badgers 366-197 a week after outgaining Iowa 466-231 in a 21-16 setback on the road.
Penalties and missed opportunities ruined Michigan State's chances to score once again.
"There's no question it's frustrating," Williams said. "It's hard to overcome turnovers and penalties. They hurt."
Spartan receiver Herb Haygood, whose 43-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter gave his team a 10-0 lead, dropped a pass in the end zone that would've given the home team a 17-point advantage in the second quarter.
"We really needed something good to happen," Wisconsin's Carlease Clark said. "When (Haygood) dropped that pass, it really got us going."
On the ensuing possession, Bollinger cut Wisconsin's deficit to 10-7 on a 1-yard sneak.
Michigan State's opportunities to score didn't end with Haygood's drop - and it didn't matter who was playing quarterback.
Ryan Van Dyke was replaced by freshman Jeff Smoker for much of the second half, but neither quarterback was able to help the team score in the second half after the score was tied at 10.
Van Dyke was 6-of-13 for 64 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Smoker was 6-of-11 for 119 yards with an interception.
The Spartans gained 64 yards during Smoker's first possession, but the drive stalled and David Schaefer missed a 39-yard field goal. They went 76 yards on their next drive, but Smoker's flea-flicker pass was intercepted by Mike Echols at Wisconsin's 1.
Michigan State's Shawn Foster fumbled a punt in Spartans territory with 5:11 left in the game. But Wisconsin, which gained possession at Michigan State's 37, lost three yards on three plays and was forced to punt.
T.J. Duckett, whose play was limited because of a hip pointer, ran for 80 yards on 20 carries.
"This is hard to deal with," Michigan State's Jace Sayler said. "We've had to say the same things after the last three games. We need to find a way to win because we keep finding a way to lose right now."
