Big 10 Roundup : Wisconsin Stunned by Western Michigan

Dave Kruse passed 22 yards to Walter Cade for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and Rob Davis ran for 136 yards and 2 scores Saturday as Western Michigan rallied for a 24-14 upset win over Wisconsin at Madison, Wis.

Western Michigan’s victory in the season opener for both schools was its first ever over a Big Ten opponent in 12 attempts and came after the Broncos fell behind, 11-0, after one quarter and trailed, 11-7, at halftime.

Kruse drove the Broncos 85 yards on the first series of the second half as Davis had 4 straight carries for 45 yards. Kruse capped the drive with the touchdown pass to Cade for a 14-11 lead.

Wisconsin quarterback Otis Flowers fumbled trying to pitch on the first play after the kickoff and Western’s Joel Smeenge recovered at the Badger 17. Davis carried 2 yards for the touchdown 3 plays later and Western led, 21-11, with 8:58 left in the quarter.

Wisconsin freshman Rich Thompson kicked a 36-yard field goal with 11:34 left to cut the margin to 21-14, but Western’s John Creek connected on a 35-yarder with 1:32 remaining to put the Broncos back up by 10.

Thompson’s 52-yard field goal and Steve Vinci’s 60-yard touchdown run, one play after LaMarr White blocked a Western Michigan field-goal attempt, gave the Badgers a 9-0 lead in the first quarter.

Western was called for a clip on the ensuing kickoff and Dan Batsch tackled Kruse in the end zone for a safety, making it 11-0.

Wisconsin took the free kick and drove to the Broncos’ 3-yard line, but Flowers fumbled on fourth and one and Terry Crews recovered for Western.

Kruse hit Bruce Boyko with a 22-yard pass midway through the second quarter and Davis carried 19 yards for a Western touchdown that made it 11-7 with 7:48 remaining in the half.

Kruse completed 22 of 40 passes for 247 yards and had 1 interception.

Duke 31, Northwestern 21--Anthony Dilweg passed for 353 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Randy Jones scored on a pair of 1-yard runs as the Blue Devils knocked off the Wildcats at Evanston, Ill.

Dilweg completed 29 of 40 passes.

Northwestern quarterback Greg Bradshaw completed 17 of 30 passes for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns, all to wide receiver Richard Buchanan, but Bradshaw also was sacked 5 times.

The Blue Devils opened a 28-0 lead before Northwestern could get on the scoreboard. The Wildcats gained just 2 yards on the ground in the first half, which ended with Duke leading, 28-7.