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Wisconsin holds off battered Michigan on Senior Day

Nov 10, 2007 - 10:09 PM MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Tyler Donovan made the most of his last home game at Wisconsin.

Donovan threw a touchdown and ran for another score Saturday as Wisconsin overcame a late scare from 13th-ranked Michigan en route to a 37-21 Big Ten Conference victory on Senior Day.

"This is a win. It's a win that's going to count the same as any other win," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. "Obviously, any time you play Michigan in this conference, for what they've done speaks volumes, but they don't play players from the past who have graduated."

Despite the loss, Michigan (8-3, 6-1 Big Ten) can still win the Big Ten if it upsets top-ranked Ohio State at home next week.

Donovan was 14-for-28 for 245 yards through the air and also rushed for 49 yards in his final game at Camp Randall Stadium.

The quarterback threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Beckum in the first quarter, then ran for a two-yard score in the second quarter to help the Badgers open a 20-7 lead at the half.

"I thought that Tyler Donovan made some unbelievable plays," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I thought they made some unbelievable catches.

"I've always liked him (Donovan) since I saw him a year ago against Iowa. He's a gritty, tough, competitive guy and I thought he had a great day."

After Wisconsin's Taylor Mehlhaff kicked his third field goal of the game in the third quarter from 19 yards out, Michigan finally got untracked.

Freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett, pressed into action when senior quarterback Chad Henne left the game in the second quarter with a slightly separated right shoulder, hooked up with Mario Manningham on a 97-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter to pull the Wolverines within 23-14.

Later in the fourth quarter, Mallett threw a 26-yard touchdown to Adrian Arrington to make it 23-21.

Mallett was intercepted by cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu with less five minutes remaining, and Wisconsin closed things out with two rushing touchdowns by freshman halfback Zach Brown in the final three minutes.

"Well I thought he made some great plays and I thought he made some bad plays," said Carr of Mallett. "When you're down 17 points and can't run the football then you're in passing situations and it's a lot easier for the defense.

"He's a young guy and there are still a lot of things to learn in terms of progression, where you're going with the ball. He made some mistakes but that's not an easy situation to be in there today."

Mallett finished 11-for-34 for 245 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Michigan, which played without injured leading rusher Mike Hart.

"It was a last-minute call," said Carr of Hart. "He came out Wednesday and he was still a little sore and felt better today.

"What I saw in the pre-game I didn't like. It was my decision. Mike would've played but I just didn't feel like putting him out there."

Senior Paul Hubbard caught seven passes for 134 yards for Wisconsin (8-3, 4-3), while Brown collected 108 yards on 27 carries on the ground.

"I think we came out strong from the get-go and finished the end with a bang," Beckum said. "It is great to know that you beat Michigan and that we won.

"I think it is important for the seniors to be able to go out that way and it feels good as a team emotionally."