Georgia State Panthers vs Wisconsin Badgers Match Player Stats On Sep 17, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 17, 2016

MADISON, Wis. -- A quarterback switch for No. 9 Wisconsin invigorated a listless offense as the Badgers rallied for a 23-17 win against Georgia State on Saturday.

Freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook orchestrated a late-game surge and junior kicker Rafael Gaglianone kicked three field goals as Wisconsin (2-0) scored the final 10 points at Camp Randall Stadium.

Hornibrook completed 8 of 12 passes for 122 yards and one interception. He came in with 6:00 left in the third quarter to replace senior starter Bart Houston, who completed 10 of 18 passes for 91 yards.

Hornibrook quickly made an impact. He completed two passes for 48 yards and running back Dare Ogunbowale scampered 2 yards for a TD score to increase Wisconsin's lead to 13-3 with 2:54 left in the third.

The Panthers (0-2) countered with a scoring drive of its own, as junior quarterback Conner Manning connected on passes of 40 and 20 yards to junior running back Glenn Smith. That set up a 13-yard touchdown run by Roger Davis to pull Georgia State to 13-10.

Georgia State continued its comeback when Hornibrook threw an interception that was picked off by cornerback Chandon Sullivan. The pass was intended for Badgers wide receiver George Rushing, who let the ball slip out of his grasp.

During a three-play, 68-yard drive, Smith caught a 60-yard pass and junior running back Kyler Neal rushed 9 yards for a TD as Georgia State took its first lead at 17-13 with 11:36 left.

But Hornibrook found freshman tight end Kyle Penniston for a pair of key competions on Wisconsin's next series. Penniston caught a short pass for a 1-yard touchdown as Wisconsin regained the lead 20-17 with 7:25 to go.

It was a rough start as injuries piled up for Wisconsin. Running back Taiwan Deal and tight end Troy Fumagali both were sidelined at the end of the first quarter with right leg injuries. Neither player returned.

Deal, who had seven carries for 34 yards, was expected to assume the bulk of work on the ground for the Badgers (2-1), with the absence of senior Corey Clement. Clement did not play in the Georgia State game. He missed one half in the Badgers' win over Akron last week, after suffering a rolled left ankle.

Contributions on Badgers defense kept the Panthers (0-3) off the scoreboard in the first quarter. Junior defensive end Conor Sheehy blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt by senior kicker Roger ten Lohuis with 6 minutes, 36 seconds left in the second quarter.

Wisconsin collected 201 total yards on offensive in the first half, compared to 86 for Georgia State; but the Badgers only had 81 through the air in the first. The Panthers had 79 yards passing.

Junior kicker Rafael Gaglianone booted field goals of 41, 28 and 21 yards, but missed a 30-yard attempt as time expired in the first half.

Georgia State got on the board with a 10-play, 49-yard drive, capped by a 45-yard field goal from ten Lohuis to trim Wisconsin's lead to 6-3 with 6:00 left in the third.

Ogunbowale led Wisconsin 20 carries for 65 yards and one TD. Penniston finished with three catches for 35 yards and a score for the Panthers.

NOTES: Wisconsin plays back-to-back road games against ranked Big Ten Conference foes in the next couple weeks. The Badgers play at No. 12 Michigan State on Sept. 24 and in Ann Arbor against No. 4 Michigan on Oct. 1. ... Junior linebacker TJ Watt and junior defensive end Alex James each have two sacks each this season for Wisconsin. ... The Badgers have compiled a 75-9 record -- a 89.2 winning percentage -- on their home field dating to the 2004 season.