Auburn whips Wisconsin
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 31, 2003
The Auburn Tigers used a balanced rushing attack and an aggressive defense to skin the Wisconsin Badgers.
After a scoreless first quarter dominated by the defensive units, Auburn's offense got on track scoring at least one touchdown in each of the next three quarters en route to a 28-14 win against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2003 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by Bridgestone at The Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn yesterday.
The Badgers took an early lead when Mike Allen converted a 20-yard field goal attempt with 7:56 left o play in the first half.
Auburn answered with a touchdown drive on its next possession to go on top 7-3. Running back Ronnie Brown capped off the 10-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. John Vaughn added the PAT.
Wisconsin trimmed the Tigers' lead to one point before the halftime intermission with a 35-yard field goal by Allen with 2:34 left in the second quarter.
In the second half, Auburn's rushing attack rolled up yards with quarterback Jason Campbell, running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and Brown all rushing for more than 60 yards in the game.
Campbell and Williams rushed for 68 yards each in the win. Williams also rushed for two touchdowns. Brown ended the game with 62 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Campbell also had a few big pass plays late in the game to set up a go-ahead touchdown. Campbell ended the game completing 8-of-20 passes for 122 yards with an interception. The pick came in the final minute of the second quarter and did not hurt the Tigers.
Williams gave the Tigers a 14-6 lead with 7:16 left in the third quarter on a 1-yard dive into the end zone. Vaughn's PAT was good and Auburn was on top 14-6.
Wisconsin knotted the score at 14-14 with 8:52 left in regulation. Lee Evans made a spectacular catch in the end zone outleaping an Auburn defender to haul in a Jim Sorgi pass for a touchdown.
Sorgi then found Owen Daniels in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion to tie the score at 14-14 with 8:52 left in the game.
Brown gave the Tigers the lead with a 3-yard touchdown run to cap off a six-play drive with 3:30 left in regulation. The six-play drive covered 87 yards and included big catches by Silas Daniels and Jeris McIntyre.
Williams added an insurance touchdown late in the game after a Wisconsin turnover.
Auburn linebacker Karlos Dansby delivered a big hit, sacking Sorgi, and forcing a fumble at the one-yard line.
Cadillac went in for his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run after Auburn recovered the fumble. Vaughn's PAT was good and Auburn was on top 28-14 with 1:37 left to play.
Auburn ended the season with an 8-5 record with the win. It is also the first time a Southeastern Conference team has won the Music City Bowl.
The Badgers (7-6) dropped to 7-2 in bowl play under Barry Alvarez, who was denied his 100th victory at Wisconsin.