Wisconsin Badgers: Big Second Half Leads To Road Win Over Maryland
After a sluggish first half, the Wisconsin Badgers came out of the locker room and looked like a completely different team, as they held on for a 31-24 road victory against the Maryland Terrapins at College Park.
Joel Stave showed his not so good side early in the game. On his first pass, he threw what should have been a pick-six. His next throw missed an open Alex Erickson, followed by an interception on his next attempt. Stave struggled the rest of the first half, completing 3 of 8 passes for 20 yards before a much-improved second half performance.
Stave led the Badgers to a eight play, 69-yard drive on the second possession of the third quarter, and he completed 4 of 5 passes for 63 yards, which was capped off by a one-yard touchdown for Alec Ingold that gave Wisconsin a 24-17 lead. The Badgers went up by 14 points with a drive that went 71 yards on seven plays. Stave completed all five passes that drive for 62 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown pass to Dare Ogunbowale.
In the second half, Stave completed 12 of 16 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. His final stat line was 15 of 24 for 188 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Erickson proved to be the most valuable player on the Badgers’ offense as he came up big once again for Wisconsin. He led the Badgers with five catches for 83 yards.
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Wisconsin’s running game was without Corey Clement for the eighth game this season. He returned last week from sports hernia surgery but did not practice this week. Clement was not cleared to play dealing with soreness, and the Badgers sure missed him.
Taiwan Deal returned to the field for the first time since Oct. 10 and finished with nine carries for 42 yards. Ogunbowale carried the ball 19 times for 47 yards and a touchdown. He also added three catches for 16 yards and another score.
Wisconsin’s defense held Maryland quarterbacks Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe to combine for 13 of 34 for 204 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, both picked by Tanner McEvoy.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jack Cichy filled in for Chris Orr for the second straight game and led the Badgers’ defense with 10 tackles and three for loss, including two sacks.
Special teams play was a big story of the game, both good and bad for the Badgers.
Wisconsin decided to kick away from return man Will Likely early in the game, and it backfired. The opening kickoff was returned to the Maryland 45-yard line, and the Badgers punted out of bounds to avoid Likely, which started the second Terrapins’ drive at the Wisconsin 32. The Terrapins took advantage with a seven-yard touchdown for Maryland running back Wes Brown.
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The Badgers came right back with a 98-yard touchdown return for Natrell Jamerson on the ensuing kickoff. On Wisconsin’s next possession, it appeared to be another three-and-out, but Joe Schobert broke free for a 57-yard gain on a fake punt. Ogunbowale scored a 21-yard touchdown on the next play to put the Badgers ahead 14-7.
Late in the first half, Wisconsin punter Drew Meyer held onto the ball too long, and his punt was blocked, which set up a 40-yard score from Hills to D.J. Moore to tie the game at 17 going into halftime.
Maryland recovered an onside kick late in the game, but a player on the opposite side of the field was offsides. Erickson recovered the rekick, and the Badgers were able to run out the clock for the win.
The Badgers have won five games in a row heading into their bye week with two tough Big Ten matchups awaiting to end the regular season. Wisconsin will host Northwestern on Nov. 21 and conclude the season with a road matchup with Minnesota on Nov. 28.