Wisconsin Shakes Off Citadel

Saturday, September 15th 2007, 3:49 pm

By: News On 6

MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ Running back P.J. Hill tied a school record with five touchdowns as No. 7 Wisconsin shook off a first-half scare from The Citadel in a 45-31 victory on Saturday.

The Badgers (3-0) extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 12 games, and never trailed in Saturday's game. But for a half, it looked like they were in danger of becoming the second Big Ten powerhouse to be upset by a team from what used to be known as Division I-AA this season.

The Citadel (2-1), a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, matched Wisconsin touchdown-for-touchdown and went into halftime tied at 21 with one of the Big Ten's best.

But the Bulldogs couldn't stop the Badgers' top dog, running back P.J. Hill.

Hill had all three of the Badgers' touchdowns in the first half _ then scored his fourth of the day on the first drive in the second half to give Wisconsin a 28-21 lead.

After that, the Bulldogs' offense ran out of answers.

Wisconsin's highly touted defense finally asserted itself on the next series with a sack by blitzing safety Aubrey Pleasant and an interception by safety Shane Carter after Citadel quarterback Duran Lawson threw into double-coverage down the right sideline.

Wisconsin still couldn't quite put the game out of reach, settling for a 22-yard field goal by Taylor Mehlhaff to take a 31-21 lead despite having first-and-goal at the Bulldogs' 4-yard line after a pass interference penalty.

The Badgers' defense forced another three-and-out and Hill broke the game open on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Badgers quarterback Tyler Donovan, becoming the fifth player in school history to score five touchdowns in a game.

Hill gained 168 yards rushing on 25 carries and caught two passes for 20 yards.

The Badgers took a 45-21 lead in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Donovan to Travis Beckum. Donovan was 14-of-20 for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulldogs got a field goal later in the fourth quarter and a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the game to cut the final deficit to 45-31.

But the lopsided final score didn't tell the story of what was a tough test for Wisconsin. Maybe the Badgers should have seen it coming.

The Citadel's only loss in its previous seven games was to Appalachian State last season. Appalachian State, of course, upset Michigan 34-32 Sept. 1.

And the Bulldogs ran a spread offense similar to the Washington State and UNLV schemes that gave the Badgers' defense fits in their first two games. The Bulldogs had 245 yards of total offense to Wisconsin's 188 in the first half.

The game even started with a bad omen for Wisconsin, as top cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu appeared to hurt his right leg making a tackle on the first play from scrimmage.

Wisconsin took a 7-0 lead on a 22-yard touchdown run by Hill. Ikegwuonu returned for the Badgers' second defensive series, only to leave the field again.

The Citadel drove deep into Wisconsin territory and Ikegwuonu's replacement, Aaron Henry, was called for a holding penalty to give the Bulldogs a first down on the 13. Lawson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tim Higgins, tying the game at 7.

The Badgers retook the lead in the second quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Hill. But the Bulldogs answered with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Lawson to wide-open tight end Aaron Kelly.

Hill scored again late in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown plunge that came one play after his 40-yard burst up the middle. But the Citadel got the ball back with 2:57 left in the half and drove 81 yards to score on a 19-yard pass from Lawson to running back Tory Cooper.

Cooper was left wide open on the play, eliciting boos from Badgers fans.