Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Football: Handing out game balls from the win over Purdue

By Dillon Graff

Oct 23, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Leo Chenal (5) tackles Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Milton Wright (0) during the game at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Leo Chenal (5) tackles Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Milton Wright (0) during the game at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paul Chryst has Wisconsin football back on track, after recording their third straight victory on Saturday. Wisconsin now sits at (4-3, 2-2) and controls their own destiny in the Big Ten West.

Both teams were deadlocked at 13 apiece going into the half, but it was Wisconsin that made the necessary adjustments and scored 20 unanswered points to close things out.

Wisconsin’s win over 25th ranked Purdue marked the end of a nine-game losing streak against ranked opponents. It was also the Badgers’ 15th straight victory over Purdue.

It was far from an aerial attack for Wisconsin who threw the ball just 8 times the entire game, and only twice in the second half. It did, however, prove to be more than enough because the badger’s backfield ran for 290 yards.

The defense did their thing, just like they always do – holding Purdue to 206 total yards (-13 yards rushing). Takeaways have been one of the few downfalls of this badger’s defense in 2021, which certainly wasn’t the case against Purdue. In total, Jim Leonhard’s defense forced 5 turnovers (2 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions).

So, without further adieu, it’s time to hand out game balls from Wisconsin’s win over 25th ranked Purdue.

OFFENSE: Chez Mellusi / Braelon Allen

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Wisconsin football team has found their 1-2 punch at running back. Wisconsin’s rushing attack paced the offense once again and has helped to establish an offensive identity that should look familiar to badger fans. Both backs eclipsed 100 yards in the same game for the second time this season. The duo combined for 189 yards rushing and a combined average of 7.4 yards per rush on 39 carries.

Chez Mellusi carried the ball 27 times for a game-high 149 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Braelon Allen added 140 yards of his own on just 12 carries, scoring two touchdowns.

DEFENSE: Leo Chenal

While the defense for the Wisconsin football team had a great afternoon as a whole, Leo Chenal stood out as the most impactful defender yet again. Chenal was tenacious as a pass-rusher and was simply unstoppable. Chenal followed up his career day against Army with 9.0 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks against 25th ranked Purdue.

Next. Nick Herbig breaking out in sophomore year. dark

The best advice I can give is to enjoy Chenal while you can because he’s going to be playing on Sundays soon enough. Chenal has been a special talent all year despite having missed the first two games. It’s hard to think of a player who has taken a bigger step on the field this season than Leo Chenal.