Badgers fall in Capitol One Bowl 34-24 to South Carolina
ORLANDO (WITI)-- For the fourth year in a row, the Wisconsin Badgers lost a bowl game on New Year's Day, making their graduating seniors winless in bowl games played.
The game started out pretty even.
The South Carolina Gamecocks struck first when Bruce Ellington caught a Connor Shaw 39-yard touchdown pass.
Bucky responded in the second quarter when Joel Stave hooked up with Sam Arneson for a one-yard touchdown, tying it up at 7.
South Carolina got fancy a few minutes later and QB Connor Shaw caught a touchdown pass from Bruce Ellington. The Gamecocks went for two, but it failed and they took a 6-point lead over Wisconsin.
As the first half came to an end, Stave connected with Jeff Duckworth for a 3-yard touchdown and Bucky headed into halftime leading 14-13.
Wisconsin got ahead in the third quarter when Jack Russell kicked a 35-yard field goal -- making it 17-13 Bucky.
But South Carolina's Ellington/Shaw duo kept it going and responded with a 22-yard touchdown giving the Gamecocks the three-point lead.
Wisconsin's Joel Stave left with a shoulder injury with about 1:15 left in the third quarter. He obtained the injury when rushing five yards and taking a hit from Victory Hampton instead of sliding. The injury was a game changer for the Badgers.
South Carolina would get a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter when Shaw hooked up with Jerrell Adams for three yards -- making the score 27-17. But Wisconsin made things exciting on the very next play when Kenzel Doe returned Jack Russell's kick for a 91-yard touchdown and the game was within three points again.
Connor Shaw added a one-yard touchdown -- giving the Gamecocks a 10-point lead again and things would be all downhill for Wisconsin.
The Badgers defense did everything they could to give their team a chance.
Chris Borland forced a fumble, but backup QB Curt Phillips struggled.
On 2nd and 7 from the South Carolina 17, Phillips tossed one to the end zone intended for Jared Abbrederis -- but Gamecocks' Kaiwan Lewis intercepted it, killing Wisconsin's chances at a comeback. They fell 34-24 and ended the season 9-4.