(All this week we’re taking a look back at the last 10 years of wins in this rivalry, reminding everyone of the decade of domination by the Badgers)
With wins in 2004, 2005 and 2006 the Badgers were building a lot of momentum in this series once again. Game four in the streak was perhaps the wildest of the bunch (yes, 2005 included), as both teams scored a ton of points and wild things happened.
Final Score: Wisconsin 41, Minnesota 34
This was the day that freshman running back Zach Brown announced just how much potential he had. Brown would lead the Badgers to victory on the back of a career-high 250-yard rushing day, adding two touchdowns.
It didn’t start off that well for the Badgers, as the Gophs raced out to a 13-3 lead early in the second quarter. However, Wisconsin would answer right back with quarterback Tyler Donovan rushing for an 8-yard touchdown just before the half to make it 13-10 Gophs.
The scoring wouldn’t stop there though, as Wisconsin would have 17 unanswered points and a 20-13 lead just over halfway through the third quarter. The Gophs would stop the bleeding and put themselves in a tie game just before the end of the quarter.
However, that was just fuel to the fire, as Wisconsin would answer back with two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the final stanza for a 34-20 lead. Fullback Bill Rentmeester would score from 1-yard out early in to the quarter, while star tight end Travis Beckum caught a 16-yard touchdown pass.
The Gophs attempted a comeback with Erick Decker catching a 4-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-27. Problem is, those silly Gophs couldn’t stop Wisconsin and made a game-changing mistake after holding the Badgers to a 3-and-out.
Punter Ken DeBauche hit a 52-yard punt to the Gophs’ 25-yard line, only to see it fumbled and UW pounce on it at the Gophs’ 15-yard line. Two plays later and the Badgers had a 41-27 lead, one that would be insurmountable.
The seven-point win would mark the beginning of the scariest stretch in the decade of domination.
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