Tolzien, Graham carry Badgers over Spartans, 38-30

Sep 27, 12:20 pm EDT

Preview | Box Score | Recap
  • Print

MADISON, Wis. (AP)—Scott Tolzien threw for 243 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, leading Wisconsin past Michigan State 38-30 on Saturday.

Garrett Graham caught three touchdown passes for the Badgers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who avenged a last-second loss to the Spartans last season.

Michigan State (1-3, 0-1) turned the ball over four times after committing two turnovers in three non-conference games. Wisconsin converted three of the turnovers, including two first-half interceptions, into touchdowns.

Tolzien was 19-of-31, hitting Graham for three scores and Nick Toon for another. Graham tied the Wisconsin record for TDs in a game by a tight end and set the career mark (13). He finished with five catches for 58 yards.

John Clay rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown for the Badgers.

Tolzien and Graham hooked up for two touchdowns in the first half as the Badgers built a 21-7 lead.

After the teams traded field goals to start the second half, Cousins hit B.J. Cunningham for a 20-yard scoring pass late in the third quarter to pull the Spartans within 24-17.

But the Badgers wrested the momentum back immediately, as David Gilreath returned the kickoff 32 yards and Tolzien found Isaac Anderson on a sideline route for 45 yards on the first play of the drive. Three plays later, Tolzien hit a streaking Nick Toon for a 19-yard score on the first snap of the fourth quarter.

After a Michigan State fumble, Tolzien found a wide-open Graham for a 23-yard score and a 38-17 lead.

Updated Sep 27, 12:20 pm EDT
digg del.icio.us
more

Head to Head - Week 4

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Michigan State 486 396 90 23 30.0% 9/54 4 22:31
Wisconsin 436 243 193 22 61.1% 5/34 1 37:29
NCAAF

46 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. big 11
    46. Posted by big 11 Wed Sep 30 11:47am EDT

    Report Abuse

    You got this MSU u just gotta go do it. do it for duffy wolverines suck!!!!!
  2. Shawn
    45. Posted by Shawn Wed Sep 30 12:45am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Here it is. MSU cant stop any offense. UM has way to much speed and talent on offense for them to handle. The UM deffense can struggle at times but they should be able to adjust for a pathetic off like MSUs. That being said, UM will dominate this game. UM wins 41-17. The D steps it up this week. Oh yea. And for all you idiots that want to argue about who graduated from were, and how they did it, and whatever else you jealous @#$%s can find to cry about. This is a @#$%in sports column. People dont want to read anything about your pathetic hick farming school. They want to talk about football.
  3. FinePrint
    44. Posted by FinePrint Tue Sep 29 1:11am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Typical Wisconsin puss. Four home games to start the season, and not one impressive win. Hmmmm ... Wofford. Nice. Slurp. Yum. Have fun on the road the next two weeks, frauds.
  4. sherrell
    43. Posted by sherrell Mon Sep 28 2:04pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Congradulations Mr. St.Jean I'm proud of you. Go Badgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  5. chipswon
    42. Posted by chipswon Mon Sep 28 11:07am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey MSU,

    Pride does come before a fall!

    Fire up CHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  6. the_ginslinger
    41. Posted by the_ginslinger Sun Sep 27 11:21am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Being a life long Spartan fan, damn!
    Wisconsin played a great game. We got beat.
    That being said, next up the in state rivalry. Everyone knows the hatred and vitriol that goes along with these games, it is part of what keeps the rivalry going. Spartans hate wolverines and vice versa. It does warm my heart to see all the hatred from a couple of M fans (Adman1976 seemed reasonable). Keep thinking the game is a foregone conclusion. It will be a shootout.
    I think anyone (both sides) that brings up another sport to rip on or promote a team is being childish. MSU has dominated recent history in basketball. It's not basketball season. Let it go during football (this goes for U of M fans too), Coach Izzo doesn't need anyone to defend him on here.
    I did think the U of M (non-grad) fan comment was funny. The thing that made it hilarious was the response that included the phrase "we havent played no one". It was illustrative of the original point about those fans that couldn't find ann arbor on a map. Having neither the diploma from M, nor the ability to read.
    Go Green!! It should be a great game.
  7. sig
    40. Posted by sig Sun Sep 27 2:17am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Im liking the badger offense...defense is getting lucky with the take-aways, but still sketchy. I can't believe all the douchebag UM fans that are posting on this story... GO SPARTY kick som UM ass!
  8. Ben
    39. Posted by Ben Sun Sep 27 1:05am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Look out folks, the Badgers have a quarterback and an opportunistic defense. The Gophers should just dig a hole and hop in -- that game is over before it starts! Go Badgers!
  9. <i>kelm_48103</i>
    38. Posted by kelm_48103 Sun Sep 27 12:56am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Michigan State: One win, Montana State

    That pretty much sums it up.

    Anyway, I'm so glad that state lost just for the fact that the media had falsely annoited Dantonio as being this great coach. It honestly encroached on the area of propoganda. The media "experts" didn't have the sense to realize that msu's biggest win last year was against Northwestern and that their improvement the past 2 seasons wasnt due to dantonio but rather javon ringer. C'mon we thought we ran mike hart hard, but it was nothing compared to msu with ringer. They ran him almost every play.
  10. Patrick
    37. Posted by Patrick Sun Sep 27 12:50am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey liver lips,
    What do you mean 'going the way of the wishbone'!!!!???? The wishbone was an innovation on the game!!!! How young are you???
  11. hans g
    36. Posted by hans g Sun Sep 27 12:27am EDT

    Report Abuse

    really? whatdid mich get with a pro style offense? 1 split national title? what has wisky done with it a rosebowl appearence? how bout penn st? what do they have to show for it? georgia i could go on an on usc is an exception they are getting nfl caliber talent at every poition but lately they have dont much i could go on an on is it any wonder mich is 90% fresh and soph and 4-0 using this system? hate it all you want when rich gets even more 4 and 5 star recruits its over for o-h-i-o and usc hate all you want the big11 is about to be flipped on its side people get on board or get out the f'n way
  12. Liver Paste
    35. Posted by Liver Paste Sun Sep 27 12:16am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I have no hard feelings twards either team in Michigan. I just think the Badgers owed one to MSU.
    I think they owe one to MU as well. I personally think the spread offense is a bit gimmicky, and will go the way of the wishbone. Especially when the pro style offense that is tight end dominated will out muscle the spread in the Big Ten..and in five to ten years, the spread will be history.
  13. hans g
    34. Posted by hans g Sat Sep 26 11:54pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    is the ink even dry on fraudtonio's extension? why do you guys settle for medicrity you coulda had brian kelly you settle for some nobody hes john l without the antics
  14. jeff
    33. Posted by jeff Sat Sep 26 11:48pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Could not agree with you more !!!!!!!!!!! msu sucks
  15. hans g
    32. Posted by hans g Sat Sep 26 11:43pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    excuse me um=ged? isnt msu basically an agriculture school? most people i know went there for an ag degree while guys go to um for law or medicine or architecture nice try flags flying in a trailor park means nothing nice try and adman we havent played no one? notre dame isnt any kind of slouch stop kissin spartys ass see you in e lansing when forcier punks you guys keep it classy
  16. <i>adman1976</i>
    31. Posted by adman1976 Sat Sep 26 10:54pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    As a lifelong Wolverine fan and a UM grad I'm more than a little embarrassed by some of the posts here.
    Am I thrilled we're 4-0? Yes. Am I convinced UM football is "back"? No.
    Let's be honest. We've beaten 2 MAC teams, an over-rated ND team, and now the "perennial football power" of IU. As far as I'm concerned we have yet to play a real team.
    Yes, Sparty is 1-3, but apart from today's loss they haven't looked terrible. We could easily be 2-2 but we had some good play and luck on our side today and against ND. MSU didn't in 2 of their losses.
    Make no mistake, if there's one game MSU will be up for all season it'll be next weekend's. They'll have plenty to prove and be trying to salvage what they can of their season. It'll be interesting to see what Forcier does away from Ann Arbor.
    Do I think/hope we'll win? Of course. Will I be shocked if we don't? Not at all.
    No game is a gimme in the BIG 10.
  17. <i>adman1976</i>
    30. Posted by adman1976 Sat Sep 26 10:52pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    As a lifelong Wolverine fan and a UM grad I'm more than a little embarrassed by some of the posts here.
    Am I thrilled we're 4-0? Yes. Am I convinced UM football is "back"? No.
    Let's be honest. We've beaten 2 MAC teams, an over-rated ND team, and now the "perennial football power" of IU. As far as I'm concerned we have yet to play a real team.
    Yes, Sparty is 1-3, but apart from today's loss they haven't looked terrible. We could easily be 2-2 but we had some good play and luck on our side today and against ND. MSU didn't in 2 of their losses.
    Make no mistake, if there's one game MSU will be up for all season it'll be next weekend's. They'll have plenty to prove and be trying to salvage what they can of their season. It'll be interesting to see what Forcier does away from Ann Arbor.
    Do I think/hope we'll win? Of course. Will I be shocked if we don't? Not at all.
    No game is a gimme in the BIG 10.
  18. H to the Izzo V to the Hizza
    29. Posted by H to the Izzo V to the Hizza Sat Sep 26 10:15pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I guess I can pull an old UM basketball fan trick....and say.....oh yeah just wait till basketball season starts. Being 5th best in football is better than being in the bottom 4 teams in basketball. For you Um fans that are confused by this, put the word "football" in the first 2 places I put "basketball" and that's the response you give when basketball season comes around.
    Like I said before, MSU fan almost always = graduate. UM fan almost always equals = GED.
    Go to your local trailer park and count the flags, (which for most UM fans means take a step outside), this is just a sad fact.
  19. The Mutant
    28. Posted by The Mutant Sat Sep 26 9:59pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    MSU can move the ball. MU's D is pathetic. tight ballgame only because MSU's d sux also. winner maybe gets a crappy bowl game in December
  20. billy
    27. Posted by billy Sat Sep 26 8:47pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    So when is dumbtono gonna start Nicol? Kirt Cus Sucks! Keith is way more diverse than that guy. Wow! Way to go spartans. I'm so glad i'm a Michigan Fan
  21. jeff
    26. Posted by jeff Sat Sep 26 7:57pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I thought the spartans were supposed to win 9 or 10 games this year hmmmmm !!!!!!!!!
  22. jeff
    25. Posted by jeff Sat Sep 26 7:55pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Looks like maybe last years solid record was a reflection of a new coach in ann arbor & a down year for the badgers !!!!! looks like the spartans are back to being the 5th or 6th best team in the big ten !!! go blue & go whoever is playing the spartans
  23. JS
    24. Posted by JS Sat Sep 26 7:33pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Spartans are down this year because their defense can't stop rolling toilet paper. They've given up 100 pts in the last 3 weeks to a MAC team, a mediocre-at-best ND and a solid-but-not-strong UW.

    Fortunately, their offense can move the ball and score and next week should be fun because U-M has no real defense either. Still, U-M will win 41-31.
  24. greg v
    23. Posted by greg v Sat Sep 26 7:09pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    a win is a win. go badgers.
  25. H to the Izzo V to the Hizza
    22. Posted by H to the Izzo V to the Hizza Sat Sep 26 7:01pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    UM fans...what a pathetic bunch of losers, and not a graduate in the bunch here. You might as well be Yankees fans. This is college sports you bafoons. I hate MSU for all history.....hope they lose forever.....Izzo should cry.....MSU fans are scum....you are all classless pathetic white trash losers, like most UM fans. I'm sure you've really been wronged by them. Trying to insult Izzo, would be like MSU fans insulting Bo, doesn't happen. MSU fans are graduates from the school and have respect for people that have class, integrity and were leaders of young men. UM graduates have respect for other successful people, you pull for your in state counterparts except when they play each other. You trailer trash UM flag flying, equivelency exam graduates who have nothing more important in your life than to hate people that are having success need to find a way of improving your own life before blogging anywhere.
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Michigan St.
K. Martin K. Martin, WR
4 Rec, 139 yds
2 TDs
 Wisconsin
S. Tolzien S. Tolzien, QB
19-31, 243 yds
4 TDs

Conference Scoreboard

NCAAF - Week 4

YAHOO! SPORTS

ALSO ON YAHOO!

THINGS YOU CAN DO

- Site Map - Additional Terms

Copyright © 2009 2009 STATS LLC and The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the STATS/AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of STATS LLC and The Associated Press.