Calhoun Leads UW Past Illinois, 41-24
October 29, 2005 | Football
Brian Calhoun ran for five touchdowns for the second time this season as the University of Wisconsin football team defeated Illinois 41-24 Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
With 197 yards on the ground, Calhoun notched his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the year for the 15th-ranked Badgers (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten). His last TD run, which went for 46 yards on the first play from scrimmage late in the fourth quarter, sealed UW's third consecutive victory.
Wisconsin's Brandon Williams added 98 yards receiving and one TD, and QB John Stocco notched his fifth straight game with more than 200 yards passing (225 total).
Stocco's counterpart Tim Brasic kept the Fighting Illini (2-6, 0-5) in the game with a team-high 116 yards on the ground, with many of the runs coming from scrambles for first downs. In the air, he ended up 20-of-39 for 277 and two touchdowns, including one with 4:07 remaining in the game to cut the score to 34-24.
That TD throw went to Kyle Hudson, who led all receivers with 10 catches for 114 yards. But it was not enough as Illinois trailed the entire game.
That's because the Badgers took control early in the contest, scoring on their first two drives'Calhoun capped an 11-play, 80-yard opening drive with a six-yard TD run, and Stocco connected with Williams for 62 yards four minutes later.
However, Illinois answered with 10 straight points and entered the half behind 20-10. Early in the third quarter, UW true freshman Jonathan Casillas blocked his second punt of the season, and Calhoun gave the Badgers some breathing room with a score two plays later.
For the season, Calhoun has 21 touchdowns (19 rushing, two receiving) and 1,218 yards rushing. The junior's five scores tied a school record that he had already matched against Bowling Green in the first game of the season.
The Badgers stay on the road next week, taking on Penn State at 2:30 p.m. CT in State College, Pa. The game will be televised live on ABC.
