BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. – Chimere Dike thoroughly enjoyed the bus ride home from Northwestern, a comfortable two-hour-plus trip spent "hanging out" with teammates after Saturday's 42-7 win. There was a post-game meal of Chicago-style pizza. There was laughter and conversation. And there was film.

"Downloaded on my iPad," Dike said. "Watched the whole game with Graham."

Graham is Graham Mertz, the other half of UW's pitch-and-catch connection that dismantled a Northwestern defense that had held Penn State to 140 yards through the air (10-of-20) and forced five turnovers the week before in Happy Valley. Nobody was happier watching the film than Mertz and Dike.

But it wasn't only for the reasons you'd suspect. Yes, the Badgers earned their first Big Ten victory. Yes, Mertz completed 20-of-29 for a career-high 299 yards and tied the school record with five touchdown passes. Yes, Dike had 10 catches for 185 yards and three scores, all personal bests.

And, yes, Braelon Allen proved that there's very little that he can't do between the lines. Along with rushing for 135 yards on 23 carries – his 11^th 100-yard game in the last 15 – he extended a play out of the Wildcat formation and threw his first career scoring pass to fellow tailback Chez Mellusi.

Upon further review, there was something else that jumped out, though.

"How good the O-line play was really stood out," Dike said. "I knew they played good because we were able to have success and it starts with them. But being able to see that (on film) – I'm running down the field and my back is turned – it was really impressive to see some of the plays they made.

"Plus, two of my best friends are on the O-line. It's cool to see them have success."

Dike is particularly close with left tackle Jack Nelson and Tanor Bortolini, who was making his first career start at left guard (after previous starts at center, right guard and right tackle). Nelson, Bortolini, Joe Tippmann, Michael Furtney and Trey Wedig allowed zero sacks and just one QB Hurry.

Mertz and Dike took care of the rest. From the very beginning. On the UW's first offensive snap, Mertz connected with Dike on an 11-yard completion. On the second snap, Mertz was operating out of the shotgun and once again found Dike for a nine-yard gain. Two plays, two targets, two receptions.

"I definitely think getting involved early in the game is a big thing for anybody," said Dike, who had just one catch in the Sept. 24 conference opener at Ohio State. "When you get the ball in your hands, you get more comfortable, and you get your confidence going.

"Not that if I don't (get involved early) I can't make plays later in the game.

"But getting those two catches to start the game got me locked in and focused. For sure."

 In the first quarter, Dike caught four passes for 31 yards on five targets. In the second quarter, he went 3-for-3 with touchdown receptions of 52 and 21 yards and a third down conversion of 43 yards. In that quarter alone, Dike's 116 receiving yards were more than he had in any previous career game.

The 52-yard scoring play was perfectly executed out of the right slot on a third-and-5 call.

"It was man coverage, and I knew if I ran a good route, there was a good chance I was going to be able to get the ball and have some space," said Dike, offering play-by-play. "I was able to create some separation at the top of the route and Graham put it right on my helmet in stride.

"That was as huge of a factor as anything – me not having to break stride – it being a super easy catch. He threw an absolute laser. I caught it and I definitely knew I had some space, and I was able to outrun the DB's angle and made him miss. That's when I knew I was gone. It's definitely a good feeling."

Dike beat Rod Heard on the over-route and erased Garner Wallace's angle by sharply turning upfield. UW wide receiver Keontez Lewis got a shield block on a pursuing defender along the sidelines. That score made it 14-0 and it not only provided the Badgers with momentum but deflated the Wildcats.

"When you out-run a guy or make a big play like that for your team, it feels good," Dike said. "You work really hard all year and you sacrifice for those opportunities and moments. And when you get them, you have to hold on to them and cherish them. It makes you want to make another big play."

Dike didn't have to wait long. On third-and-8 from the Northwestern 21, Mertz dropped back to pass against a four-man pressure. Stepping up in the pocket, he lofted a soft pass to Dike who had waved for the ball after racing past Heard. Dike was wide open for his second TD of the quarter.

"Graham moved really well in the pocket and had a couple of big throws on scrambles where he'd make a guy miss," Dike said. "He did a really good job of being creative and taking care of the football. Our O-line did an amazing job of keeping him clean and created running lanes for the backs."

In the second half, Dike was again 3-for-3 on targets and catches, including a 13-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Two years ago, Dike caught a 49-yard TD pass from Mertz at Ryan Field in only his third career game. "I've had some good memories there," he said.

Dike remembered having a couple of double-digit receiving games at Waukesha North High School. In 2018, he had 12 catches for 261 yards and four touchdowns against Waukesha South. His prep QB, Johnny Kelliher, now a baseball pitcher at UW-Milwaukee, threw for 327 yards and five TDs.

"Anytime you're making plays, it's a lot of fun – but it's definitely a lot more fun in college," Dike said. "It's hard to come by those big plays here because you're going against really good players. I was just happy that I was able to deliver for my team and we were able to get the win (at Northwestern)."

Only seven Big Ten players had recorded 10+ catches, 185+ yards and 3+ TD's in the same game since 2000. Dike is the eighth. The last Badger receiver to hit those numbers was Lee Evans, who caught 10 passes for 258 yards and five scores against Michigan State in a 2003 win at Camp Randall Stadium.

Evans, the UW's all-time leading receiver (3,468), posted 200+ yards three times in his career.

"I knew who he was, but I was too young to know about him when he was playing," said Dike, who was born in 2001. "I've looked at a couple of his videos. And he was obviously a Badger legend. My goal is to be hopefully one of the guys remembered like Lee Evans down the road as a receiver.

"I know I still have a lot of work to do. But to have a game like that where you're mentioned with those guys (Evans, Al Toon, Jared Abbrederis, Tim Ware and Chris Chambers all went over 185 yards in game) it gives you that confidence and trust you can get there if you just keep working."

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The UW workplace was shaken last week with the dismissal of head coach Paul Chryst. Replacing him on an interim basis is defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Dike was selected to answer questions at a media availability prior to the Northwestern trip. He talked the talk. Then walked the walk.

"It was definitely emotional – definitely a different experience," said Dike, who was joined by Mertz, Allen, Nick Herbig, John Torchio and Keanu Benton at Wednesday's Q&A. "We kind of know that football is a business, especially at this stage. You get introduced to that.

"Coach Leonhard did a really good job of handling the team and the whole situation. Obviously, it was emotional for him and he was great all week. I wouldn't have expected anything less from him. The guys all did a good job of coming to work and locking in for two hours at practice or film sessions.

"That's what I tried to do. Outside here (the facility) you could deal with it however you needed to deal with it. I have a lot of respect for Coach Chryst. He gave me the opportunity to be a Badger. I'm thankful. And I'm excited for what's to come with Coach Leonhard and the rest of the season."

One of Leonhard's tweaks or innovations was to have the players get together last Thursday night in the new south end zone premium seating area. There was food. There was NFL football (Colts vs. Broncos). And there was plenty of casual interaction between teammates at a time when it was most needed.

"On Friday night, you're around the guys, but you're also closer to the game, so you really have to focus," Dike said. "Something like this where you can relax and not think about football and just keep building that camaraderie between guys is huge. Especially in a week where our minds were spinning."

It begs the question, what is sustainable after Saturday's emotional "high" at Northwestern?

"For me, the good thing about what I do, my approach is the same every week," Dike said. "I try to be a guy who's a hard worker, a guy who's consistent. I hope my teammates can see that I come to work every single day and I approach it the right way and I will continue to approach it the right way."

Regarding his own personal expectations and production, he said, "I know I'm a good player. I think anybody who has been around the program knows this isn't something that happened out of the blue moon. It's me making plays. I've been doing this for awhile now.

"I've had good performances and I've been able to build off of them. I'm hoping that I can keep going. I have a lot of good people around me which makes it easy. Anytime you come off a win, you have momentum building. I think we have a really good football team.

"As long as we play clean football, we can beat a lot of people. We did that this past week."

Dike hinted at "surprising a lot of people" in October and November. For now, he has put himself in some fast company. Only Ohio State's Emeke Egbuka (18.7) and Michigan's Roman Wilson (18.7) are averaging more yards per reception than Dike (17.7) in the Big Ten.

"I always have confidence that I can make plays – obviously I got a lot of opportunities to do that (at Northwestern)," he said. "Coach (Bobby) Engram did a great job calling the game – being really balanced – he called my number a lot and I was able to deliver for him and the team."

Dike liked the idea that Engram, the UW play-caller, was on the sidelines, not in the press box.

"You're able to communicate with him a little easier – you can go up and talk to him about what you're seeing and have that face-to-face communication," Dike said. "That interaction is definitely important. He did a great job Saturday and hopefully we can build off that success."

Another road trip beckons. The Badgers will play next at Michigan State – marking their first appearance at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing since late September of 2016. Wide receiver Jazz Peavy, a Kenosha native, led the UW with four receptions for 96 yards in a 30-6 win.

There's some historical relevance. Dike was the first in-state receiver to gain a scholarship to Wisconsin since Peavy in 2013. Meanwhile, Dike's 185 receiving yards at Northwestern were the most by a Badger wideout since Jared Abbrederis collected 207 in 2013.

Dike would like to download something positive on his iPad for Saturday's flight home. "I'm prepared to make big plays every week," he said. "This past week, they came my way." And he took advantage of it. "It felt really good," he nodded with a reassuring grin suggesting there's more to come.