Badgers play takeaway, force five Illini turnovers

MADISON - Turnovers can hurt good football teams and can crush bad teams.

Although Lovie Smith’s Illinois team is struggling to win games, the Illini came to Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday second in the Big Ten in turnover margin at plus-eight (13 turnovers forced, five lost).

Those numbers didn’t hold up Saturday.

UW’s defense took advantage of five turnovers – three interceptions and two fumbles – in the first half Saturday and the offense turned three of those turnovers into touchdowns in building an 18point lead.

Those miscues proved instrumental in UW’s 49-20 victory.

you play a good football team like we were playing against the University of Wisconsin, there’s some things you have to do” Smith said.

“No. 1, you have to protect the football. The turnover ratio, of course, is big each week.

“Offensively, we needed to hold onto the ball. You can't turn it over that many times.”

What had to bug Smith and his players is that UW entered the day with nine turnovers forced – five fumbles and four interceptions – in its first six games.

Senior linebacker T.J. Edwards, nose tackle Olive Sagapolu and safety Evan Bondoc recorded interceptions in the opening half.

Bondoc forced the Illini’s first fumble, although quarterback AJ Bush recovered at the UW 25. Linebacker Jack Sanborn forced a fumble on the next play, on a screen to tailback Reggie Cobrin, and teammate Chris Orr recovered at the UW 23.

Safety Eric Burrell forced another fumble late in the first half and cornerback Rachad Wildgoose recovered at the Illinois 35.

Aron Cruickshank scored on a 23yard run two plays after Edwards’ interception; Alex Hornibrook hit Jake Ferguson for a 27-yard score one play after Sagapolu’s interception; and Hornibrook hit Kyle Penniston for an 11-yard score three plays after Wildgoose’s fumble recovery.

From the infirmary

Sagapolu suffered an injury to his left leg on his interception and did not return.

Outside linebacker Andrew Van Gin“When kel came up limping after making a tackle on the final play of the third quarter and did not return.

Although UW officials did not provide an official update, neither injury appeared to serious.

Van Ginkel, who has been slowed by an ankle injury suffered against BYU, recorded a sack and finished with six tackles. He entered the day with 13 total tackles.

Hornibrook moves up

Hornibrook completed 13 of 22 passes for 188 yards to become the seventh UW player to reach the 5,000-yard passing mark.

Hornibrook has 5,157 yards, which is the No. 6 mark in program history. He needs 115 yards to pass Scott Tolzien for the No. 5 mark.