MADISON, Wis. — While any loss is never a satisfying end to a game, an overtime loss stings significantly more with the team putting everything out on the field for a complete 60 minutes. Couple an overtime loss with a loss at home and that game will be a hard one to swallow.
In Wisconsin’s 30-23 overtime loss against Ohio State at Camp Randall Saturday night, the team as a whole fought through the adversity of a #2 ranked Ohio State team, yet several missed opportunities on offense and defense resulted in the Badgers coming up short after 60 minutes of football and overtime play.
“It was very disappointing especially when it comes down to overtime,” running back Corey Clement said after the game. “We get another four tries to punch it into the end zone.”
While Clement had a good day with 25 carries for 166 yards, the offense as a whole had some missed opportunities and some stagnation in the third quarter that allowed Ohio State to come back into the game.
Of his own performance, Clement said, “I allowed myself to be patient.”
Another player who excelled in the Saturday overtime loss was wide receiver Jazz Peavy. Peavy carried six times for 70 yards and made four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. He picked up several first down with a repeated jet sweep play that kept the Badgers offense moving downfield.
“That was just how the game was going,” Peavy said. “Coach let me know we are going to ride the hot horse. We did that until they stopped us.”
The offense was finally able to give the defense a rest and get the ball moving downfield in the fourth quarter
“I guess there’s some of me and then our offense to just turn it around,” Alex Hornibrook said of their last successful drive of regulation time. “If we didn’t get that drive going there, that could’ve affected us a lot more and not given us a chance to get into overtime. Our offense just got the momentum back and drove it down the field.”
In overtime, Hornibrook was confident in his ability to get the touchdown though after a few runs and an incomplete pass, Hornibrook was sacked on fourth down by Ohio State’s Tyquan Lewis.
“It’s another chance—game is still on the line—to play,” Hornibrook said of overtime. “We felt good going in there. We just couldn’t put it in there at the end.”
The defense played well considering the Ohio State offense kept them on the field for a large percent of the second half. Defensive players did address, however, that there were several missed tackles and missed opportunities that could have shifted the momentum of the game.
“I take full responsibility,” outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. “I did not play up to par. I just could not finish.”
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett proved he was a dual offensive threat, making 17 of 29 throws with only one interception and 226 yards and a touchdown. He was also the leading rusher with 21 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
“He can do it all. He can run. He can throw, and he trusts all his players. I think he showed that tonight,” Watt said.
One positive takeaway was kicker Andrew Endicott. Going in for the Rafael Gaglianone, who suffered a season-ending back injury, he made three of three field goals, two of them from 30-plus yards.
“I was just hoping people wouldn’t even recognize Raf wasn’t kicking,” Endicott said.
There was a somber attitude in the locker room after the overtime loss, but the team said that disappointment only remains for the night and then it’s onto the next week.
“We just leave the bitter taste in our mouth a little bit to get out and work, but it’s Iowa,” Hornibrook said.
Inside linebacker Jack Cichy, who led in team tackles with 11 including 3.5 for a loss, said that while this loss was “a bit of a hiccup,” it will only drive the team further towards their goals for the season. The team’s perseverance and ability to push through adversity, he said, is what makes this season’s Badgers so special.
“That’s one thing that makes this team so great,” Cichy said. “We care a lot so it’s going to matter to us, and we’re not going to let that happen again.”
“It’s down obviously,” tight end Troy Fumagalli said of the locker room atmosphere after the game. “You get so many people that put their hearts out there. That’s what is like when you come up short. It’s down.”
Peavy said that while this loss is particularly hard, the team fought and proved their worth against a top-ranked Ohio State team.
“We’ve always known that we are a team that can hang with any team in this country. It just sucks that’s just how this one ended up,” Peavy said.
Clement said that Coach Chryst gave himself and his teammates the following lesson after the game.
“Sometimes you either beat the heavyweight champion or you don’t, but you still get up and learn to fight next week.”
Wisconsin takes on Iowa next weekend in Iowa City at 11:00 a.m.