Second-quarter surge pushed Badgers past Purdue
November 20, 2016 | Football, Mike Lucas
Team turns focus to Border Battle with Minnesota, retaining Axe and claiming West Division title
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Bart Houston really didn't take notice of his surroundings until well after former Purdue All-American quarterback Drew Brees had introduced the scoreboard video of Otis Day and the Knights singing "Shout."
The Boilermakers' game day tradition took place at the end of the third quarter here Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. On loan from the New Orleans Saints, who played Thursday night and were off for the weekend, the 37-year-old Brees encouraged the home fans to sing along.
Not that there was much to "Shout" about.
On the strength of a 35-point second quarter, the Badgers were leading 42-13 going into the final 15 minutes. That silenced the crowd. Not that there was much of one. The announced attendance was 30,465. The turnstile count might have been half of that.
This was more of an abandoned house than an Animal House.
Not that Houston really noticed.
"I kind of noticed when I was going out for the last drive of the fourth quarter," he said of the smattering of red in an all but empty stadium. "Yeah, it was empty. But we're always so focused on the 11 guys that are in front of us. That's all that matters — everything between the boundaries."
That's how these Badgers roll — by taking their cue from head coach Paul Chryst, who approaches every game (as the favorite or underdog) and every opponent (ranked or unranked) the same way. Never assume. Take nothing for granted. Chryst's attitude permeates this 9-2 football team.
"We've got a team that brings a lot of energy ourselves," said senior tailback Dare Ogunbowale, one of the captains along with outside linebacker Vince Biegel, a prime energy source. "If a stadium is pretty empty like that and doesn't have much juice, it's not hard for us to find some."
Actually, they found quite a bit of juice in the second quarter. The Badgers were averaging 24 points per Big Ten game and had not scored more than 21 in any quarter this season (twice doing so against Akron and Illinois). So the 35-point explosion was a little unexpected to say the least.
"We didn't start off the way we wanted to and the guys on the sideline were trying to get us going," Houston said of Purdue scoring on its initial drive and taking a 3-0 first quarter lead. "And it finally happened. With the defense sparking it and a couple of big plays on offense, it opened up for us."
Helping light the fire was outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who had a pick-six, one of the more memorable defensive plays you'll see this side of J.J. Watt's interception of Andy Dalton in the second quarter of the 2012 NFL AFC Wild Card game between the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals.
"It was a huge turning point," Houston said.
T.J. Watt's interception of Purdue's David Blough and 17-yard return for a score — a beautiful individual effort on the part of the youngest Watt — sustained and extended the momentum from the Badgers' 10-play, 87-yard scoring drive that gave them a 7-3 lead.
On second-and-9 from the UW 14, tailback Bradrick Shaw jump started the offense with a 31-yard run around left end. "He (Shaw) is starting to trust the line, trust the blocks," Houston said. "And he's starting to hit the hole with power. It's really fun to watch a young guy run like that."
Almost as much fun as it was to watch an "old guy" run. That came after the catch in the open field on two successful screen plays. Ogunbowale, a fifth-year senior, picked up 34 yards on one and 18 yards on the other. Both came on passes from Houston on third down and kept the series alive.
"We practiced it all week and that's part of the package that we had for Purdue," said Ogunbowale. "I have to honor my protection first and make sure the linebacker that I have isn't coming. Then I make sure I catch the ball, obviously. Then I have to be patient.
"I have to wait for the linemen to get down field and I have to make sure I make the right cut off them. It's always nice to see some 300-pound guys sprinting to make sure you stay protected (after the catch) and working hard to make a big play go."
Noted Houston, who replaced Alex Hornibrook in the second quarter, "It (the screen strategy) just developed as the game went on. It was windy out there so we were kind of battling the elements. But Dare was unbelievable. On one, he set up a block for about 20 minutes before finally cutting back. Dang."
Fullback Alec Ingold capped the march with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
"I think it was second, third and fourth effort," Ingold said. "But I had to get in."
That was followed by Watt's defensive gem, triggering the flurry of points.
Five touchdowns, all told, in less than eight minutes.
"It was good to click on all cylinders," said Ingold, who also scored on a 19-yard pass from Houston. "Once we got the wind to our backs, we could open it up a little bit. Everyone was confident and knew it was just a matter of time before we started clicking."
That was true of Hornibrook, who came back into the game in the second half and connected with Jazz Peavy on a 25-yard scoring pitch. Hornibrook was 7-of-9 for 89 yards; Houston was 5-of-6 for 102 yards. In addition, Houston gained 14 yards on two QB rollouts and a read option.
What was it like to call his own number in the huddle? "It was kind of funny," Houston said, "because Corey (Clement) and (Michael) Deiter were saying, 'All right, let's see what you got, Bart.'"
On this day, the Badgers had way too much for the Boilermakers.
Next? The Border Battle.
"Nothing more has to be said," Ogunbowale stressed.
"We don't have to say anything," Houston chimed in.
Both were fully aware that the Badgers can punch their ticket to Indianapolis and the Big Ten championship game with a victory Saturday over Minnesota at Camp Randall Stadium.
As for the newcomers who might not be up to speed with the rivalry between the Gophers and the Badgers, Ogunbowale said, "Once they see that Axe at every practice, they'll get the hint."
