What Happened: Key Plays in Wisconsin Nebraska Game
The Situation: Wisconsin ball, 3rd-and-4 on the Wisconsin 45, 3rd Quarter
After the penalties and Groshek’s recovery, Wisconsin kept the football. They ran three straight times to Taylor for gains of 7, 15, and 10. Taylor got a breather and Bradrick Shaw and Rachid Ibrahim gained six yards on two runs. The Badgers were in a 3rd-and-4 at its own 45.
The Play: Quintez Cephus moves the chains with a catch and run
Wisconsin had been isolating its leading wide receiver Quintez Cephus to the left side of the formation all night. It finally paid off handsomely on this critical third down. Nebraska was playing man coverage. So that meant when Cephus ran his crossing route off the line he kept on running. Coming from Hornibrook’s left, the southpaw QB had a clean look at Cephus the entire play. He dumped it off to the WR and he turned on the jets and turned it upfield for a 31-yard gain.
The Badgers got a fresh set of downs on the edge of the red zone. Taylor ran three more times gaining 19 yards to get Wisconsin to a 3rd-and-goal at the 5.
The Result: Cephus caps the drive with a go ahead touchdown
On 3rd down, Hornibrook again looked for Cephus. After all, it had worked a moment ago. This time, Wisconsin had single RB flanking Hornibrook. Twin WR to the left and a TE ready to run. Cephus was alone to the right side of the formation. Nebraska was in man coverage.
As a result, Hornibrook only looked towards Cephus. The WR stuttered at the line off the snap making the CB think he might run a slant. Instead he broke outside and then stopped in the end zone and worked back. Hornibrook threw a strike and it was a back-shoulder touchdown. Don’t laugh Cam, but the route concept here makes the CB think it could be in-breaking and then outside to the flag. Frankly, with a perfect throw there really isn’t much the CB can do unless he guesses brilliantly.