Badger Bits: Nebraska
October 02, 2011 | Football
Oct. 2, 2011
BY KARL ANDERSON
UW Athletic Communications
MADISON, Wis. – After failing to snag an interception in any of the Badgers’ first three games, the Wisconsin defense has now turned into a group of ball-hawks.
Building off a two-interception game against South Dakota last week, the seventh-ranked Badgers picked off three of Taylor Martinez’s attempts on Saturday night in the team’s 48-17 win over No. 8 Nebraska. It was the most interceptions by UW since recording four picks against Northwestern last November.
As important as the turnovers were, the Badgers inflicted more damage by converting them all into touchdowns. With three interceptions in a stretch of four Nebraska drives between the second and third quarters, a one-point UW deficit turned into a 20-point lead.
With Wisconsin trailing 14-13 in the second quarter, linebacker Mike Taylor recorded the fourth interception of his career by stepping in front of a Martinez pass. It was part of a career day for Taylor, as he finished with a career-high 14 tackles. On the drive following Taylor’s pick, UW quarterback Russell Wilson found Jared Abbrederis for a 36-yard touchdown pass to give Wisconsin a lead it would not relinquish.
On Nebraska’s next drive, the Cornhuskers moved the ball to the UW 46-yard line. Martinez tried to fit a pass down the sideline, but he overthrew his receiver and safety Aaron Henry was there to record the turnover, the fourth interception of this career. On the ensuing Badgers drive, Wilson found Nick Toon for a 46-yard score to push the lead to 27-14.
After missing a field goal to close the first half, Nebraska tried to start strong in the second but Martinez was again errant with a throw. His very first pass of the third quarter was intercepted by cornerback Antonio Fenelus, who grabbed his sixth pick of his career. Wilson closed off the drive himself this time, running for a 10-yard score.
In a span of just 8:36, Wisconsin intercepted three passes and turned a 14-13 deficit into a 34-14 lead.
Wilson guides the offense
Another week means another impressive performance from Russell Wilson.
The senior signal-caller completed 14 of 20 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, while on the ground he rushed six times for 32 yards and another score.
Wilson has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 29 straight games, the longest current streak in the country. Wilson has thrown at least two TD passes in each of his five games as a Badger, which is the longest multiple-TD streak in UW history.
Most of the damage came in the first half as Wilson was 12-for-16 for 233 yards -- and both of his passing touchdowns came within the first two quarters.
Wilson was at his best when the Badgers needed him the most, on third downs.
Wilson was 6-for-6 passing on third down, converting six first downs. He also converted a third-and-5 with a 16-yard run.
Ball finds the end zone four times
Through the first four games of the season, the carry distribution between Montee Ball and James White was fairly even. Ball held a 63-45 advantage in rushing attempts, but most of the discrepancy came when Ball had 12 more carries against Northern Illinois.
Aside from that game against the Huskies, Ball never finished more than six carries ahead of White, and White even out-rushed Ball last week against South Dakota, 11-10.
Saturday night, however, Ball was the workhorse.
Toting the ball a career-high 30 times, Ball rushed for a season-best 151 yards and tied a career high with four rushing touchdowns. White had 11 rushes for 26 yards.
As a whole, the running game struggled in the first half, rushing for just 61 yards on 20 carries. Things changed in the second half, though, as evidenced by the team’s opening drive.
The Badgers ran on all seven plays of its 42-yard scoring drive. Ball took the first three carries and gained 25 yards before letting White handle the next two runs for 5 yards. A 2-yard run by Ball then set up Russell Wilson’s 10-yard scoring run.
The running game wore down the Huskers, and Ball rushed at least three times on each of UW’s last four drives of the game.
