Cougars’ trick is no treat for No. 6 Badgers

Wisconsin suffers first nonconference loss at home loss since 2003

MADISON, Wis. — BYU coach Kalani Sitake viewed Wisconsin’s brand of smash-mouth football as a blueprint for success.

The Cougars followed the plan to perfection Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. Squally Canada ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and BYU handed errorprone Wisconsin its first nonconference home loss since 2003 with a 24-21 victory.

BYU gave No. 6 Wisconsin fits on motion plays and sweeps. The Cougars (2-1) tossed in a trick play, too, when receiver Aleva Hifo found tight end Moroni Laulu-Pututau for a 31-yard TD pass in the second quarter.

Sitake was so happy with the toughness of his team that he gave the game ball to his strength and conditioning coaches.

“I talked about how much I admire the (Wisconsin) program, the tradition and the smashmouth football that they play,” Sitake said. “But our players were gritty and they played hard and with a lot of toughness.”

Wisconsin (2-1) had one last chance to avoid an upset with a drive that started at its 8 with 3 minutes, 55 seconds left. But normally reliable senior kicker Rafael Gaglianone’s 42-yard fieldgoal attempt to tie with 41 seconds left went wide left.

“BYU! BYU!” yelled the small contingent of Cougars fans in the stands. BYU’s last victory over a top-10 team came in 2009 with a 14-13 win over No. 3 Oklahoma.

The Badgers’ 41-game nonconference winning streak — the longest active in the nation — came to an end. Their hopes to make the College Football Playoff likely did too.

“Win as a team and everyone can own their part equally in a loss,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.

Wisconsin’s last nonconference loss at home was 23-5 to UNLV on Sept. 13, 2003.