Football team suffers 2nd half letdown in defeat

For 29 minutes, the football team prevented Wisconsin from tearing apart its vulnerable defense. But during the last minute of the first half, the Badgers scored and the Hoosiers never recovered.\nIU yielded more than 40 points for the seventh time in 10 games as it fell 43-22 Saturday before 30,469 at Memorial Stadium. The Badgers scored 36 points in the second half after taking a 7-6 lead into halftime.\nThe Hoosiers (3-7, 2-5 in Big Ten play) had a plethora of chances to upset the Badgers, who became bowl eligible with the victory. IU forced three Wisconsin (7-4, 3-4) fumbles in the first half, but failed to take advantage of the Badgers' mistakes, scoring just three points off turnovers. \n"It's frustrating when you get so many turnovers and the score stays the same," senior strong safety Johnny Anderson said.\nJunior quarterback Antwaan Randle El had 351 yards of offense, including 156 yards rushing, but hurt IU's chances with four turnovers. In addition to throwing three interceptions, Randle El fumbled in the first quarter.\n"He doesn't want to turn the football over, and we have turned the ball over more than we can overcome," coach Cam Cameron said. \nThe first of three consecutive Wisconsin fumbles occurred with 3:12 remaining in the first quarter, as Anderson recovered running back Michael Bennett's miscue. Less than four minutes later, senior kicker Andy Payne connected on a 50-yard field goal attempt, giving IU a 6-0 lead. \n IU failed to produce any points from Wisconsin's next two fumbles, and with less than a minute remaining in the half, the Badgers managed to protect and move the ball in the same drive. \n After starting quarterback Brooks Bollinger left the game with a sprained left ankle, freshman Jim Sorgi led a final-minute drive, giving Wisconsin a one-point lead heading into halftime. The four-play, 80-yard drive lasted just 25 seconds and concluded with Sorgi's 26-yard touchdown pass to Lee Evans.\n"In the locker room we felt we were still in it, which we were," said Randle El when asked about the team's mood at halftime.\nPrior to the final drive of the half, Wisconsin had gained 129 yards on 25 plays. The Badgers ended the game gaining 435 yards of total offense, 228 rushing and 207 passing. IU's defense held Bennett, the NCAA's fourth leading rusher, to just 51 yards on 10 carries.\nSorgi was solid in place of Bollinger, completing 16-of-21 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. Sorgi's most spectacular play was a 47-yard run on the opening drive of the second half, setting up a 14-yard touchdown pass to John Sigmund increasing the lead to 14-6.\n"I don't think I've ever had a 47-yard run before," Sorgi said. "If I was as quick as Antwaan Randle El, it might be a little different." \nRandle El's 58-yard touchdown run closed the gap to 14-12 midway through the third quarter, but IU failed to convert a two-point conversion that would've tied the game. \nWisconsin then scored 22 unanswered points, taking a 36-15 lead with 4:54 remaining in the game. Freshman running back Brian Lewis, replacing junior Levron Williams, who missed the game with a groin pull, scored on an eight-yard run trimming the Badgers' lead to 36-22 with 3:18 remaining.\nThe ensuing onside kick fell into the hands of Evans, who carried the ball 34 yards for a touchdown. After recovering the kick, Evans ran untouched on his way to scoring the game's decisive touchdown. \n"You make those mistakes against a sound football team," Cameron said, "which Wisconsin is, and you have no chance"