Wisconsin Football: Live Blog Recap Wisconsin and Nebraska

A live blog of Wisconsin and Nebraska as two Big Ten West rivals meet in Lincoln for whatever the Freedom Trophy is

Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) and Nebraska (3-2, 2-0) meet on Saturday evening in Lincoln, Nebraska to resume Big Ten West hostilities.  The visiting Badgers are the decided favorite.

Wisconsin needs a win to keep its Big Ten title aspirations and College Football Playoff hopes on track.  The Badgers can seize control of the Big Ten West with a win.

So read along with us as we run down the action with our real time reaction to everything on the field.

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1st Quarter

Nebraska looks like its wearing practice jerseys but that will likely be my only sartorial comment of the evening.  The Cornhuskers start with the football and a run around right end gets a big gain.    Dooley gave up the edge there crashing inside.  Lee staring left the entire way and finds a hole behind the Badger secondary.  Badger Freshman CB Dontye Carriere-Williams jumps on an inside route and the receiver carries it outside.  Two runs set up a 3rd-and-2.  Again, success off a zone read look running to the right.   TOUCHDOWN WISCONSIN.  Nebraska tries a safe (ha!) screen and the carom is plucked by Chris Orr who races the other way for the score.

Wisconsin 7  Nebraska 0  12:34 1st Quarter

Nebraska football again and this time a 1st down run gets little.  A 2nd down run picks up a fresh set as the Nebraska RB drags D’Cota Dixon across the line to gain.  Badgers flagged for a facemask on the next Husker run.  Nebraska in Badger territory again.  Finally a run stacked up, as Alec James leads the charge.  TJ Edwards, this time erases a short throw.  On 3rd down, Nebraska looked to have it blocked but Ryan Connelly slips the block and makes the tackle to force a punt.

Wisconsin finally gets its first offensive possession with just over nine minutes left in the first quarter.  Jonathan Taylor with a nice run but flag down.  Illegal block and Wisconsin backed up.  Couple Badger runs make it a reasonable 3rd-and-6.  Troy Fumagalli is out there.  Hornibrook off his back foot finds Quintez Cephus on a crossing route and he runs away from the defensive back.  Cephus’ route (don’t laugh Cam) was designed to use the umpire as a pick.   Taylor finds room on the left side for a big gain, cooly stepping through a tackle and sprinting down the sideline.  Wisconsin now on the Nebraska 25.  Taylor races around left end for a big gainer again but another flag down.  Bummer.  Wisconsin now at the 24.  Chris James on the carry for a nice gain.  Still 2nd-and-14.  Hornibrook finds Fumagalli underneath to set up a 3rd-andhsort.  But the big TE immediately jogs off.   Wisconsin now in 3rd-and-4.  I run it here, instead Badgers throw and AJ Taylor bobbles and drops the pass.  It was thrown behind him but he still needed to haul it in.  ANOTHER flag.  OPI on Kyle Penniston (in for Fumagalli) and declined by Nebraska.  Rafael Gaglianone rills the field goal to extend the Badger lead

Wisconsin 10  Nebraska 0  3:30 1st Quarter

Nebraska running and find some room using zone read and jet sweep fakes.  Seems to give the Badgers just enough of a momentary pause to let the play develop.  Nick Nelson beat this time as Tanner Lee rolls left and extends the play.  Nelson’s man works back to the ball and then beats him for an extra 10 yards after the catch.  Huskers go deep and Carriere-Williams contests but doesn’t tip it.  WR easily could have made that catch, probably should have in fact.  Let off for the Badger defense.  Handoff gets little thanks to Edwards.  Nebraska in 3rd-and-7.  Natrell Jamerson breaks up the pass play and Huskers are punting from the Badger 45.  Nelson fair catches at its own 16.

Wisconsin 10  Nebraska 0  :47 1st Quarter

Off bootleg Hornibrook finds Fumagalli for a first down.  Another flag as Bradrick Shaw has a nice run.  Wisconsin flagged for holding.  Badgers flinch and tack on another five.  Huskers doubling Fumagalli and Hornibrook stares him down.  Incomplete.  Screen to Chris James gets some yardage back.  Hornibrook sacked on 3rd down and Badgers will punt.  Nebraska little twist up front and Badgers don’t block it.  Wisconsin punts.