Wisconsin Badgers
5-2 , 3-1
Illinois
3-4 , 1-3
Snow show: Wisconsin storms past Illinois, 49-20
October 20, 2018 | Football
Deal, Ingold score 2 TDs a piece in Badgers' Homecoming celebration
MADISON, Wis. — Sun. Rain. Snow. Sun again. October's weather couldn't make up its mind Saturday in Madison, but that didn't stop No. 23 Wisconsin from putting the freeze on visiting Illinois, 49-20.
Jonathan Taylor rushed for 159 yards and Taiwan Deal ran for 111 and two touchdowns for the Badgers. Fullback Alec Ingold added more fire to the cold day with two more touchdowns, one in the air and one on the ground, to help take advantage of five first-half turnovers forced by the Badgers' defense.
Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) had three interceptions and recovered two fumbles on the way to building a 28-10 halftime lead on the way to their ninth-straight win over Illinois (3-4, 1-3).
UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook completed 13 of 22 passes for 188 yards, throwing three touchdown passes and two interceptions. Senior Evan Bondoc, making his first-ever start at safety, recorded his first career interception and forced fumble to account for two of the Badgers' takeaway.
The Badgers opened with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Ingold's 1-yard scoring run. On the ensuing possession, linebacker T.J. Edwards returned an interception 28 yards to the Illinois 25-yard line and two plays later freshman Aron Cruickshank scored on a 23-yard jet sweep to put Wisconsin up 14-0.
Reggie Corbin scored on an 80-yard run for Illinois to cut the lead to 14-7.
An interception by 342-pound nose tackle Olive Sagapolu set up Wisconsin's next score, when Hornibrook hit Jake Ferguson for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 21-7.
The Badgers converted a fumble recovery into a 35-yard touchdown drive, culminating in Hornibrook's 11-yard pass to Kyle Penniston.
Chase McClaughlin's 52-yard field goal on the final play of the half made it 28-10.
Illinois made it 28-17 early in the third quarter but Wisconsin countered with a pair of touchdowns, a 39-yard breakaway by Deal and a 19-yard connection from Hornibrook to Ingold, to push the lead to 42-17.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin travels to Northwestern in a crucial Big Ten West showdown next Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Team Stats
ILL 0, WIS 7
WIS - Ingold, Alec 1 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:33
ILL 0, WIS 14
WIS - Cruickshank, A. 23 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:52
ILL 7, WIS 14
ILL - Corbin,Reggie 80 yd run (McLaughlin,C. kick), 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:17
ILL 7, WIS 21
WIS - Ferguson, Jake 27 yd pass from Hornibrook, A. (Gaglianone, R. kick) 1 plays, 27 yards, TOP 0:08
ILL 7, WIS 28
WIS - Penniston, Kyle 11 yd pass from Hornibrook, A. (Gaglianone, R. kick) 3 plays, 35 yards, TOP 0:34
ILL 10, WIS 28
ILL - McLaughlin,C. 52 yd field goal 2 plays, 5 yards, TOP 0:07
ILL 17, WIS 28
ILL - Bonner,RaVon 18 yd run (McLaughlin,C. kick), 2 plays, 43 yards, TOP 0:25
ILL 17, WIS 35
WIS - Deal, Taiwan 39 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:35
ILL 17, WIS 42
WIS - Ingold, Alec 19 yd pass from Hornibrook, A. (Gaglianone, R. kick) 8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 4:12
ILL 20, WIS 42
ILL - McLaughlin,C. 26 yd field goal 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:09
ILL 20, WIS 49
WIS - Deal, Taiwan 6 yd run (Gaglianone, R. kick), 11 plays, 86 yards, TOP 5:54
