Lofty hopes suffer a purple bruise
Badgers’ short-handed offense gets man-handled
Northwestern continues to be Wisconsin's kryptonite, particularly in Evanston.
Paul Chryst and his players arrived at Ryan Field on Saturday with a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West Division. They failed miserably. Northwestern, which has consistently protected its home turf in recent years and has handed UW several galling defeats, did so again Saturday afternoon with a dominating defensive performance.
Playing without injured wide receivers Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis, UW managed one scoring drive and turned the ball over five times in an ugly 17-7 defeat.
“We've got to play better," Chryst said, making sure to credit Northwestern's defensive work. "Obviously, when you turn the ball over the number of times that we did, it makes it harder. And each turnover adds to that.
"Offensively, we did some good things but were inconsistent and obviously didn't do the things to sustain drives.”
UW (2-1) lost for the fifth time in the six trips to Evanston. The lone victory during that stretch came in 2016, Chryst's second season as UW's head coach.
Northwestern (5-0) took control of the Big Ten West and appears headed to the league title game for the second time in three seasons despite finishing with only 263 yards of offense.
The Wildcats have forced a total of 18 turnovers in the last six meetings with UW, an average of three per game.
The Badgers' offensive execution in the third game of the season was well
below par and they finished with one score on 17 possessions and 366 yards of offense.
UW managed 251 yards on 69 plays, 3.6 yards per play, on its last 14 possessions after the lone score.
“Obviously, they are a good defense," Chryst said. "They are going to try to keep (everything) in front of them…bAnd they do a good job of mixing up their coverages and they got some pressure.
"We knew going in it was a good defense and we didn't do enough against them."
The Badgers came in with one turnover in two games, a fumble in the opener against Illinois, but suffered four turnovers in the first two quarters Saturday.
Quarterback Graham Mertz, who didn't throw an interception in his first two games, threw two in the first half Saturday and lost a fumble as well.
Mertz finished 23 of 41 for 230 yards, with three interceptions and one touchdown. The touchdown was a 49-yard pass to freshman Chimere Dike in the opening quarter.
UW's ground game was inconsistent. Led by freshman Jalen Berger (15 carries, 93 yards), UW finished with 136 yards on 40 carries.
"For us, it was obviously the passing game today," Mertz said when asked to assess the offensive issues. "It was working through progressions and really seeing the field.
"Northwestern is a great, veteran defense. They knew what was coming with our progressions.
"Obviously, it was something I'd love to get back."
The Wildcats failed to score off the first three miscues but drove 72 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 halftime lead after Mertz's second interception.
Peyton Ramsey, who stabilized the quarterback possession for Northwestern, hit Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman for a 25-yard touchdown with just 56 seconds left in the half to give the Wildcats the lead for good.
Chiaokhiao beat Donte Burton, who was in for injured starter Rachad Wildgoose (shoulder).
Ramsey finished 23 of 44 for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Most important, he didn't turn the ball over.
The Wildcats set the tone early with their defense and then took advantage of two pass-interference calls for a 7-0 lead just 4:10 into the game.
UW got the ball first but lost 6 yards on the series and the Wildcats took over at the Badgers 46 after Riley Lees' 17yard punt return.
Interference against
safety
Scott
Nelson gave the Wildcats the ball at the UW 2. The Badgers forced Northwestern into third and goal from the 5 but Wildgoose was called for interference in the end zone.
That put the ball at the 2 and Ramsey hit tight end Charlie Mangieri for a 2yard score to help the Wildcats take a 7-0 lead.
Northwestern was 1 yard away from taking a two-score lead just a few minutes later but a turnover turned the momentum in UW's favor.
UW tailback Garrett Groshek lost a fumble at the Badgers 37 and the Wildcats used a trick play for a 36-yard pass play as Lees found wide receiver Chiaokhiao-Bowman to the UW 1.
Tailback Isaiah Bowser fumbled on the next play, however, and reserve linebacker Spencer Lytle recovered in the end zone for a touchback.
UW needed six plays to cover the 80 yards and get back into the game.
Nakia Watson gained 5 yards to the Northwestern 49 on fourth and 1, and Mertz hit Dike for a touchdown on the next play.
Collin Larsh added the conversion to forge the 7-7 tie with 5:14 left in the quarter.
UW was still even at 7-7 despite three turnovers, including a fumble and interception by Mertz.
Northwestern capitalized on UW's fourth turnover of the half, three more than the Badgers had in their first two games, to take the seven-point lead at the break.
Mertz threw high over the middle on third and 8 from the UW 49 and safety Brandon Joseph got his second interception of the half to give the Wildcats the ball at their 28 with 2:15 left.
Northwestern took advantage of a questionable overturn by the replay official to drive 72 yards for its second touchdown.
Ramsey capped the drive with a beautiful 25-yard strike to ChiaokhiaoBowman. That came three plays after the officials on the field ruled wide receiver Kyric McGowan's 14-yard reception to the UW 42 was an incompletion because the receiver was out of bounds when he made the catch.
The replay official overturned the call, however, and UW paid the price.
Both defenses dominated the third quarter as the contest turned into a battle of attrition and for field position.
UW ran 14 plays on its first four possessions of the half and managed just 26 total yards. The Badgers' defense limited Northwestern to 13 yards on 15 plays in the quarter and UW took over at its 47 after a punt.
That possession ended when Mertz was sacked for a 10-yard loss to the Wildcats 33, on fourth and 6.
Northwestern finally moved the ball against UW's defense and managed a 32-yard field goal by Charlie Kuhbander for a 17-7 lead with 11:35 left.
UW had to score twice to force overtime or rally for the victory.
Northwestern's defense wouldn't allow it.
"Heck of a Big Ten battle, no doubt about that," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "We knew it was going to be a heavyweight fight and that's exactly what it was.
"Our guys were ready to play."