CATCHING ON
Team effort helps UW improve to 9-0
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst is fond of noting that his football team is at its best when it gets contributions from up and down the roster.
Saturday was such a day as No. 4 UW had to rely on its offense, defense and special teams to overcome an early double-digit deficit to roll to a 45-17 victory over Indiana.
“People don’t understand,” senior cornerback Derrick Tindal said. “We’ve got guys in every position.
“We don’t just have role players. We have playmakers. Because we need everybody to make a play.”
Let Tindal and his teammates count the ways:
Freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor, who missed more than half of the previous game with an apparent ankle injury, rushed 29 times for 183 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Alex Hornibrook overcame an interception in the end zone on UW’s first drive to hit several critical throws and finished 13 of 20 for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Reserve safety Joe Ferguson, handling the bulk of the work for starter D'Cota Dixon (right leg), recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes, with all three takeaways leading to touchdowns.
Reserve outside linebacker Tyler Johnson forced one fumble and pressured Indiana quarterback Richard La-
gow into one of his two interceptions.
Fullback Alec Ingold scored three times —on an 18-yard reception and a pair of 1-yard runs — all after Indiana turnovers.
UW scored 28 points off Indiana turnovers — two interceptions, one fumble and one on downs.
All that came after Indiana built a 10-0 lead 15:49 into the game. UW outscored Indiana, 45-7, over the final 40:28.
“There’s no panic," Tindal said when asked about the mood on the UW sideline. "That is what I like about our team. We were down 10-zip and it felt like we was up 25-zip because everyone was on the sideline was laughing and having fun.
"There was just no panic from the guys.”
UW (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) joined the 1998 and 2004 teams by improving to 9-0 overall.
The ’98 team lost its 10th game — a 27-10 decision at Michigan — but won a share of the Big Ten title with a 7-1 mark and then upset UCLA in the Rose Bowl to finish 11-1.
The ’04 team lost its final three games — at Michigan State, at Iowa and to Georgia in the Outback Bowl.
UW also extended its winning streak to 10 games, dating to the 2017 Cotton Bowl. That is the No. 3 mark in program history. UW won 14 consecutive games (Sept. 30, 2006 to Sept. 29, 2007) and 11 consecutive games (Oct. 2, 1999 to Sept. 16, 2000).
Indiana (3-6, 0-6) remained winless in Big Ten play.
Next up for the Badgers is a home game against Iowa (6-3, 3-3), which stunned No. 3 Ohio State, 55-24, Saturday in Iowa City.
"I was really proud of the way the guys played and competed," said Chryst, who is 30-6 as UW's head coach. "We knew going in this was going to be a challenging game. We have a lot of respect for what Coach Allen is doing. As we watched and prepared for it, I felt like (Indiana) was a really good team and I still feel that.
"I thought our guys played and responded and made plays. Certainly, we didn't start the way we want with a turnover in the red zone." The victory came at price, however. UW lost wide receiver Quintez Cephus (right leg) and linebacker Chris Orr (left leg). Cephus had two catches for 24 yards. He gave UW the lead for good at 14-10 with an 8-yard touchdown catch with 6 minutes, 21 seconds left in the first half.
His injury appeared to be severe, however, and there is fear he could be out for at least the remainder of the regular season.
"Guys had to step up and step in and that was fun to see them make some big plays," said Chryst, who said he wasn't sure of the severity of Cephus' injury. "They were resilient and I appreciate that."
UW dominated the Hoosiers after falling behind by two scores early.
Hornibrook capped a 73-yard touchdown drive with an 18-yard pass to Ingold. Ferguson's fumble recovery resulted in a 27-yard touchdown drive, which Hornibrook capped with 8-yard pass to Cephus.
UW's lead was, 24-17, when Johnson pressured Lagow into an interception by Ferguson at the Hoosiers' 27. Ingold capped the seven-play drive with a 1yard run. Ferguson's second interception set up the offense at the Indiana 33. Ingold capped the eight-play drive with a 1-yard run and the lead was 38-17 with 5:19 remaining.
UW's defense limited Indiana to 40 rushing yards on 21 carries, 55 total plays and 266 total yards. Indiana gained 80 yards on its second series of the game and a combined 145 on is final 11 series.
"I'd like to start by saying it's a simple football game," Indiana coach Tom Allen said. "It's about protecting the football and creating takeaways.
"To me, we played a great football team today, but when you're minustwo in the takeaway ratio you're not going to win."
The No. 1 takeaway from UW's latest victory? Chryst's players never buckled after falling behind early.
"You don't want to be behind the eight ball," Chryst said. "But I think they do a nice job of focusing in on the moment. I think they have confidence in each other and know that it's a long game, and you just have to continue to play no matter what happens."