SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 11, 2010
John Clay rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns, but 11th-ranked Wisconsin struggled to put away winless San Jose State 27-14 Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

It was the 15th straight home-opening win for the Badgers (2-0), who could not put away the Spartans (0-2) until the fourth quarter. San Jose State entered the game after a 48-3 loss at top-ranked Alabama last week.

Wisconsin finished with 401 yards, 210 on the ground, but its defense had difficulties with San Jose State’s passing attack. Spartans quarterback Jordan La Secla completed 20-of-26 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

The Badgers led 17-0 at halftime on a 1-yard run from Clay, a 14-yard pass from Scott Tolzien to Lance Kendricks and a 45-yard field goal from Philip Welch. Tolzien ended the day completing 15-of-22 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.

Welch made a 37-yard field goal for a 20-0 lead midway through the third quarter before San Jose State cut into the lead. La Secla hit Chandler Jones on a 37-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left in the period to cut the lead to 20-7. Chandler had eight catches for 113 yards.

But Wisconsin answered with a 10-play, 77-yard drive, capped by another 1-yard run by Clay for a 27-7 lead.

The Spartans still wouldn’t go away. La Secla led a 62-yard drive, ended by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Noel Grigsby to make the score 27-14 with 5:49 left. A recovered onside kick by San Jose State was nullified by a penalty, giving Wisconsin the ball and a chance to salt the game away.

Wisconsin hosts Arizona State next Saturday while San Jose State plays its home opener against Southern Utah.