Written by Adrian Beecher
(Arlington, TX) - Wisconsin’s defense stepped up, and their offense dominated early on as the Badger won the 2017 Cotton Bowl Classic with a 24-16 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos. After going up early 14-0, the Badgers would have to hold off the Bronco’s comeback efforts as they took home the coveted Field Scovell Trophy as Cotton Bowl Champions.
Western Michigan won the opening toss and elected to defer to the 2nd half, so the Badger started out with possession. It did not take Wisconsin long before they were in the red zone and threatening. Once they got to 1st and goal, it took just one play for running back Corey Clement to make it into the end zone untouched up the middle for the 2-yard score to cap off a 6 minute and 8-second drive that went 75 yards in 11 plays.
The Broncos first drive of the game started out great, as quarterback Zach Terrell found Corey Davis for a 22-yard completion on the first play of the drive. After that, the Badgers defense stiffened up and forced the Broncos into a punt. Wisconsin then took over at their 12-yard line.
Once again the Badgers marched right down the field in an unstoppable manner. With each snap being a positive gain, it was not long before Dare Ogunbowale was running it in from 1 yard out to make it 14-0 Wisconsin.
WMU’s next possession once again started out great. This time they were able to get into Wisconsin territory, but then the problems started. After two incomplete passes and a sack by Wisconsin’s TJ Watt, the Broncos once again had to punt.
However, the ensuing possession for the Badgers, they were unable to move the ball as they had on their previous drives. The Western Michigan defense forced the Badgers into a 3 and out for the first time of the game.
Western Michigan desperately needed to get something going to keep the game interesting, and they were able to get once again into Badgers territory. However, then came 4th and 5 for the Broncos from the Wisconsin 38 yard line, PJ Fleck called a timeout to get his team ready for a monumental play early in the game. The timeout paid off, and the Broncos were able to pick up the first down as Zach Terrell connected with Corey Davis for 10 yards.
Then two first downs and 7 plays later it was Zach Terrell with the fake handoff that fooled everyone on the Badgers defense as he rolled out to the right side and made a defensive player miss and then walked into the end zone for the 2 yard TD score to make it 14-7 with 5:27 left in the 1st half.
Wisconsin then took over and on a 2nd and 11 from their 24-yard line, they ran an end-around and handed it off to Jazz Peavy who ran it 51 yards up the right sideline before he was knocked out at the Western Michigan 25 yard line.
Western Michigan started with possession in the 2nd half and continued where they left off, moving the ball at will against the Badgers defense. All of that stopped once they reached the red zone as the Badgers held the Broncos and forced them into a 4th down. WMU would settle for a 27-yard field goal from Butch Hampton to make it 17-10 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
On the Badgers ensuing possession, it looked as if the 2nd half adjustments were paying off as the Badgers were struggling to pick up first downs. Then on a 3rd and 10 from their 36-yard line, Broncos Linebacker Robert Spillane got penetration into the backfield and sacked Wisconsin quarterback Bart Houston to make it 4th and 19, forcing a punt.
Then it was the Broncos turn again, as they started 1st and 10 from their own 35-yard line. They quickly made it to around midfield before things started to stall out. They would be forced to punt on 4th and 4 from the Badgers 49 yard line. This setup a 1st and 10 for the Badgers at their own 12-yard line.
Wisconsin would then drive down into WMU territory and on 4th and 3 from the 30-yard line, Bart Houston connected with tight end Troy Fumagalli for the 7-yard completion for the 1st down. However, offensive pass interference was called on the play and negated the first down, pushing Wisconsin back to a 4th and 18 and a punt.
WMU’s next drive started backed up at their own 3-yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, Zach Terrell was picked off by inside linebacker TJ Edwards.
"I think their quarterback was doing a great job all game of reading our eyes and getting the ball out fast. We just needed a play to spark it, and I am just glad I was able to do that.", said Edwards of the interception after the game.
This made it 1st and 10 for the Badgers at the WMU 12 yard line. It then took just 3 plays for Alex Hornibrook to find Troy Fumagalli in the back of the end zone for the 8-yard TD score to make it 24-10 Badgers with 12:26 left in regulation.
The score would make it difficult for Western Michigan to come back, but the Broncos would not let up. They continued to fight. However, their next drive would take just under 9 minutes to get on the board, theoretically milking out their own hope of a comeback. However, before they scored, disaster almost happened. With 6:31 left on the clock, the Broncos were facing a 2nd and 12 from the Wisconsin 31 when TJ Watt punched the ball out of the hands of Javarion Franklin’s hands on a run, but Franklin was able to get back on top of it to keep their drive alive.
Five plays later on a 4th and 4 from the Badger 11 yard line, Terrell threw a desperation heave into the back right of the end zone and miraculously Corey Davis hauled it in for the 11 yard TD score. This makes it 24-16, as they missed the extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, the Broncos attempted the onsides kick, but they were unable to recover it, and the Badgers took over.
Western Michigan had one last chance, but they would need to stop the Badgers and force a punt. With 2:42 left on the clock, the Broncos had forced the Badgers into a 3rd and 8 from the WMU 46 yard line. That’s when Bart Houston found a wide open Troy Fumagalli for a 26-yard completion and first down. Then two plays later the Badgers picked up another 1st down, and that was all she wrote.
Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli was named the Sanford Trophy winner for being the most outstanding offensive player. Fumagalli finished the game with 6 receptions for 83 yards and the game sealing TD.
Badgers head coach Paul Chryst spoke about Troy's performance and as well as his growth over the course of the season after the game, "I've been really fortunate. We've had a number of really good tight ends at Wisconsin. And they're all different. But Fuma [Troy Fumagalli] has got the ability to be a matchup problem for a number of teams or a number of individuals if they're playing him man. And he's big. He's skilled. He runs well enough and has a great knack to separate. And I think another thing that's important is our quarterbacks trust him, so he's got a big reception radius. And he's done a really nice job this year of continuing to develop as a blocker. And he was big today. It was fun to see."
Inside Linebacker T.J. Edwards was awarded the McKnight Trophy for being the most outstanding defensive player of the match. Edwards picked off Zach Terrell early in the 4th quarter to turn the tide, putting Wisconsin on the WMU 12 yard line and lead to a touchdown.
Western Michigan won the opening toss and elected to defer to the 2nd half, so the Badger started out with possession. It did not take Wisconsin long before they were in the red zone and threatening. Once they got to 1st and goal, it took just one play for running back Corey Clement to make it into the end zone untouched up the middle for the 2-yard score to cap off a 6 minute and 8-second drive that went 75 yards in 11 plays.
The Broncos first drive of the game started out great, as quarterback Zach Terrell found Corey Davis for a 22-yard completion on the first play of the drive. After that, the Badgers defense stiffened up and forced the Broncos into a punt. Wisconsin then took over at their 12-yard line.
Once again the Badgers marched right down the field in an unstoppable manner. With each snap being a positive gain, it was not long before Dare Ogunbowale was running it in from 1 yard out to make it 14-0 Wisconsin.
WMU’s next possession once again started out great. This time they were able to get into Wisconsin territory, but then the problems started. After two incomplete passes and a sack by Wisconsin’s TJ Watt, the Broncos once again had to punt.
However, the ensuing possession for the Badgers, they were unable to move the ball as they had on their previous drives. The Western Michigan defense forced the Badgers into a 3 and out for the first time of the game.
Western Michigan desperately needed to get something going to keep the game interesting, and they were able to get once again into Badgers territory. However, then came 4th and 5 for the Broncos from the Wisconsin 38 yard line, PJ Fleck called a timeout to get his team ready for a monumental play early in the game. The timeout paid off, and the Broncos were able to pick up the first down as Zach Terrell connected with Corey Davis for 10 yards.
Then two first downs and 7 plays later it was Zach Terrell with the fake handoff that fooled everyone on the Badgers defense as he rolled out to the right side and made a defensive player miss and then walked into the end zone for the 2 yard TD score to make it 14-7 with 5:27 left in the 1st half.
Wisconsin then took over and on a 2nd and 11 from their 24-yard line, they ran an end-around and handed it off to Jazz Peavy who ran it 51 yards up the right sideline before he was knocked out at the Western Michigan 25 yard line.
Western Michigan started with possession in the 2nd half and continued where they left off, moving the ball at will against the Badgers defense. All of that stopped once they reached the red zone as the Badgers held the Broncos and forced them into a 4th down. WMU would settle for a 27-yard field goal from Butch Hampton to make it 17-10 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
On the Badgers ensuing possession, it looked as if the 2nd half adjustments were paying off as the Badgers were struggling to pick up first downs. Then on a 3rd and 10 from their 36-yard line, Broncos Linebacker Robert Spillane got penetration into the backfield and sacked Wisconsin quarterback Bart Houston to make it 4th and 19, forcing a punt.
Then it was the Broncos turn again, as they started 1st and 10 from their own 35-yard line. They quickly made it to around midfield before things started to stall out. They would be forced to punt on 4th and 4 from the Badgers 49 yard line. This setup a 1st and 10 for the Badgers at their own 12-yard line.
Wisconsin would then drive down into WMU territory and on 4th and 3 from the 30-yard line, Bart Houston connected with tight end Troy Fumagalli for the 7-yard completion for the 1st down. However, offensive pass interference was called on the play and negated the first down, pushing Wisconsin back to a 4th and 18 and a punt.
WMU’s next drive started backed up at their own 3-yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, Zach Terrell was picked off by inside linebacker TJ Edwards.
"I think their quarterback was doing a great job all game of reading our eyes and getting the ball out fast. We just needed a play to spark it, and I am just glad I was able to do that.", said Edwards of the interception after the game.
This made it 1st and 10 for the Badgers at the WMU 12 yard line. It then took just 3 plays for Alex Hornibrook to find Troy Fumagalli in the back of the end zone for the 8-yard TD score to make it 24-10 Badgers with 12:26 left in regulation.
The score would make it difficult for Western Michigan to come back, but the Broncos would not let up. They continued to fight. However, their next drive would take just under 9 minutes to get on the board, theoretically milking out their own hope of a comeback. However, before they scored, disaster almost happened. With 6:31 left on the clock, the Broncos were facing a 2nd and 12 from the Wisconsin 31 when TJ Watt punched the ball out of the hands of Javarion Franklin’s hands on a run, but Franklin was able to get back on top of it to keep their drive alive.
Five plays later on a 4th and 4 from the Badger 11 yard line, Terrell threw a desperation heave into the back right of the end zone and miraculously Corey Davis hauled it in for the 11 yard TD score. This makes it 24-16, as they missed the extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, the Broncos attempted the onsides kick, but they were unable to recover it, and the Badgers took over.
Western Michigan had one last chance, but they would need to stop the Badgers and force a punt. With 2:42 left on the clock, the Broncos had forced the Badgers into a 3rd and 8 from the WMU 46 yard line. That’s when Bart Houston found a wide open Troy Fumagalli for a 26-yard completion and first down. Then two plays later the Badgers picked up another 1st down, and that was all she wrote.
Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli was named the Sanford Trophy winner for being the most outstanding offensive player. Fumagalli finished the game with 6 receptions for 83 yards and the game sealing TD.
Badgers head coach Paul Chryst spoke about Troy's performance and as well as his growth over the course of the season after the game, "I've been really fortunate. We've had a number of really good tight ends at Wisconsin. And they're all different. But Fuma [Troy Fumagalli] has got the ability to be a matchup problem for a number of teams or a number of individuals if they're playing him man. And he's big. He's skilled. He runs well enough and has a great knack to separate. And I think another thing that's important is our quarterbacks trust him, so he's got a big reception radius. And he's done a really nice job this year of continuing to develop as a blocker. And he was big today. It was fun to see."
Inside Linebacker T.J. Edwards was awarded the McKnight Trophy for being the most outstanding defensive player of the match. Edwards picked off Zach Terrell early in the 4th quarter to turn the tide, putting Wisconsin on the WMU 12 yard line and lead to a touchdown.