Wisconsin sneaks past No. 14 Michigan

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Everybody was expecting a run, but a

quarterback draw? Nobody anticipated that. Not even the

quarterback.

"I was a little surprised by the call, but it was

unbelievable," John Stocco said after his 4-yard touchdown run

with 24 seconds left gave Wisconsin a 23-20 win over No. 14

Michigan on Saturday night, snapping the Wolverines' 23-game

winning streak in Big Ten openers.

With Brian Calhoun, the nation's leading scorer, having already

accounted for 214 yards, and 266-pound Matt Bernstein at the ready,

the call from the sideline raised eyebrows even in the Badgers'

huddle.

"I was expecting to run the ball, personally," Calhoun said.

"Me or Bernie. It was a good call. It surprised the defense."

Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) hadn't beaten the Wolverines (2-2, 0-1),

who were ranked third just two weeks ago, since 1994. And it was

just the second loss in Michigan's last 38 conference openers --

both were to Wisconsin, which also beat the Wolverines in their

1981 Big Ten kickoff.

Wisconsin also tied its modern-day mark with its ninth straight

home win, its longest such streak since the early 1960s.

Calhoun provided the key block on the winning play, pushing a

linebacker out of Stocco's way.

The Wolverines said they expected a run because the Badgers had

one timeout left. But they were surprised not to see Calhoun

carrying.

"We were looking for a run but we just didn't get to the ball

fast enough," defensive tackle Pat Massey said.

Calhoun rushed 35 times for 155 yards and a touchdown, his ninth

of the season, and gained another 59 yards on seven receptions, the

most by a running back during coach Barry Alvarez's 16 seasons as

coach.

"I said coming into this year that he's the total package,"

Alvarez said. "He has it all -- sprinter's speed, soft hands, and

he makes you miss. He's carried as much as Ronny (Dayne). I don't

know that you can find someone who can do it any better than he

can."

That's precisely why the crowd of 83,022, the second-biggest in

Camp Randall Stadium history, booed the bewildering play calls when

the Badgers didn't put the ball in Calhoun's hands after reaching

the Wolverines' 4 with 38 seconds left down 20-16.

On first down, Stocco's pass over the top was deflected at the

line of scrimmage, then his floater into the right corner of the

end zone was batted down.

But the plays weren't entirely fruitless -- Badgers wide

receivers coach Henry Mason noticed the Wolverines had sent their

two defensive tackles wide to cut off the outside rushing lanes and

apply pressure on the passer.

So, he suggested a play up the middle.

And on third-and-goal, Stocco dropped back for what looked like

another pass, then knifed his way through the goal line.

Badgers offensive tackle Joe Thomas had a hug for Alvarez, who

was just 2-7 against Michigan and 0-6 against Wolverines coach

Lloyd Carr, and will retire from coaching at year's end.

"I know Lloyd Carr has really had his number," Thomas said.

"To get a win in his last year against Michigan is really

special."

It looked like the Badgers were going to come up short again --

they had lost their last four to Michigan by an average of 4½

points -- when Chad Henne threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to freshman

Mario Manningham on a flea flicker that put the Wolverines ahead

20-16 with nine minutes left.

That erased the 16-13 lead Wisconsin had taken on Calhoun's

6-yard touchdown dive with 11:34 left.

"I gained a lot of respect for Brian Calhoun today," Carr

said. "He's one tough guy. He keeps coming. He's proved to have

incredible endurance and he doesn't fumble the football."

The Wolverines played their second straight game without star

tailback Mike Hart, who strained a hamstring in their loss to Notre

Dame.

Michigan took a 13-3 halftime lead despite getting nothing out

of a 96-yard, 17-play drive that stalled at the 1 when strong

safety Joe Stellmacher and linebacker Mark Zalewski stuffed Grady

on fourth-and-goal.

Michigan went ahead 10-0 when Jason Avant caught a 4-yard

touchdown pass in front of cornerback Brett Bell, who was the goat

the last time these teams met in Madison, in 2001, when a punt

bounced off his leg in the closing seconds, allowing Michigan to

kick the game-winning field goal.

"I always wanted to beat Michigan," said Bell, now a senior

and co-captain. "When you come into the Big Ten you always want to

beat the teams like Michigan and Ohio State. After what happened a

couple of years ago, it's really great to get this win."