UW gets jolt from special teams
There were two bad punts, a returner fielding the ball inside the 10, a blocked kick, an opening kickoff out of bounds and a delay of game penalty.
But the Wisconsin special teams also delivered game-changing plays in its 4228 win over Wake Forest on Wednesday for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl crown.
It was the blocked and recovered punt by Jaylan Franklin midway through the second quarter that allowed the Badgers to start a scoring drive at the Wake Forest 9-yard line. And Devin Chandler’s 59yard return in the second half led to another score that allowed UW to quickly retie the game at 21 after the Demon Deacons had taken the lead.
Coupled with four Badgers interceptions, it helped explain how UW could win the game comfortably despite a massive disadvantage in overall yardage, 518266.
Andy Vujnovich, who was on the hook for a 32-yard punt earlier in the game (one play after Wisconsin took a delay of game penalty setting up for the kick), dropped a clean snap on the first series of the second half. Though he recovered, he booted the ball just 16 yards out of bounds to the 50, setting up Wake Forest for a go-ahead touchdown.
But playing in his home state of North Carolina, Chandler took the ensuing kickoff 59 yards, tightrope-walking down the sideline to the 33, and the Badgers were able to answer within five plays and 2:15 to tie at 21-21.
“Glad we got him,” UW coach Paul Chryst said of Chandler. “I certainly think he’s got some ability and he’s young. He needs to have a great offseason. He’s capable of some big plays and has some skill . ... Devin, it was neat for him. His senior year was here in the area, and those were big plays for him.”
Extended time at tackle for Brown
The Badgers starting offensive line was left in tatters, but one of the program’s highest profile recruits, Logan Brown, held his own in his first extended opportunity.
Stalwart left tackle and NFL prospect Cole Van Lanen was inactive for a second straight game, and this time starting right guard Logan Bruss also was inactive. Jon Dietzen shifted to left tackle in Van Lanen’s stead, but when Dietzen hobbled off the field in the first half,
Brown got his chance.
Brown was the program’s lone fivestar recruit in 2019 and had offers from a number of top programs, including Alabama and Michigan.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder redshirted in 2019 and had played sparingly this season.
“Wisconsin O-linemen, man,” quarterback Graham Mertz said. “They’re always ready to play.”
Oops
When word leaked out postgame that the Badgers may have shattered the Duke’s Mayo Bowl trophy, UW coach Paul Chryst joked that he wanted “everyone to have a piece of the trophy” but pleaded ignorance about how it met its demise.
As the virtual interview session continued, players revealed there was video evidence of who broke the trophy, and eventually one player admitted he was the guilty party.
“I dropped it. That’s on me,” quarterback Graham Mertz confessed.
“My mama would call it a boo-boo, but it’s all right, we’ll bounce back. It’ll be the last trophy I ever drop, I guarantee you that.”