SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 22, 2012
No. 24 Wisconsin 37, Texas El-Paso 26: James White had two rushing touchdowns and Melvin Gordon added another as the 24th-ranked Badgers survived an injury to star running back Montee Ball in topping the visiting Miners.
Ball, a Heisman Trophy hopeful to start the season, was removed with a head injury after a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He appeared to be injured when he lost a fumble for the first time in his career in the first quarter, but remained in the game and scored to give Wisconsin (3-1) a 9-6 lead. The senior was removed after the TD.
Nick Lamaison completed 22 of 39 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns for UTEP (1-3), which trailed 23-6 in the second quarter but rallied to cut the lead to four points early in the fourth. Wisconsin responded with two touchdowns in a span 15 seconds, the first by White and the second by Gordon after the Miners fumbled the kickoff.
Freshman Joel Stave, starting in place of Danny O'Brien at quarterback for Wisconsin, completed 12 of 17 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown.
Lamaison threw both TD passes to Michael Edwards, who had 151 yards on seven catches.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gordon gained a game-high 112 yards on eight carries. ... UTEP safety Richard Spencer was carted off the field with a knee injury. ... The Miners are 0-9 in front of crowds over 70,000.