Jack Cichy
After suffering an apparent broken nose from a kick to the face, Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave returned to the field to lead the Badgers on a game-winning drive that ended with Rafael Gaglianone’s 29-yard go-ahead field goal. The Badgers held on to knock off the U-S-C Trojans 23-21 to capture the Holiday Bowl. It’s the first win for the Badgers over U-S-C, in this, their seventh meeting.
Stave had two 17-yard completions on the final drive. He finished with 217 yards and a touchdown and was named the games offensive MVP.
The Defensive MVP honors went to linebacker Jack Cichy. He had to sit out the first half because of a targeting penalty in Wisconsin’s final regular season game. Cichy was dominant when he finally hit the field.
Cichy recorded three sacks in one half, on back-to-back-to-back plays in the third quarter against the Trojans. He also had nine tackles, in just one half of football.
AUDIO: Jack Cichy asked if sitting the 1st half provided motivation :22
Joel Stave finished 18 of 27 for 217 yards and a touchdown to earn Offensive MVP honors. The victory was the 31st with Stave as the starting quarterback, which broke the program record of 30, set by Brooks Bollinger from 1999 through 2002.
AUDIO: Joel Stave on becoming the winningest QB in Badger history :22
Corey Clement returned to the Badger lineup and rushed for 66 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown. He left the game in the third quarter with a left ankle injury.
Cody Kessler finished 18 of 32 for 221 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Trojans. The Badger defense held Kessler under his passing average of 255 yards per game.
After the game, Wisconsin junior linebacker Vince Biegel, who had been considering leaving early for the NFL, announced that he would be returning for his senior season in Madison.
AUDIO: Vince Biegel says he’s returning for senior season :19
Wisconsin finished 10-3 in Paul Chryst’s first season. The Badgers went 1-3 against teams with winning records. Their three losses were at the hands of Alabama (12-1), Iowa (12-1) and Northwestern (10-2).