By Steve SilverThe Daily Northwestern
MADISON, Wis. – All last week, coach Pat Fitzgerald talked about stopping Wisconsin’s ground attack.
He said he knew the Badgers boasted a massive offensive line and he was prepared for the bruising power runner, freshman tailback P.J. Hill.
But Wisconsin still did what it does best Saturday: It ran for 307 yards en route to their 41-9 victory over Northwestern – exposing a Wildcat team that continues to struggle to stop opposing offenses while failing to move the ball themselves.
“Hopefully this is rock bottom,” said sophomore running back Tyrell Sutton about the lopsided loss, in which NU’s offense posted just 216 total yards.
On the second play of the game, Hill slipped through NU’s defense for a 60-yard touchdown run.
Hill finished with 249 yards and one touchdown on 35 carries.
Meanwhile, for the second consecutive week, Sutton carried the ball only eight times, picking up 18 yards this time.
But Sutton was sidelined for most of the first quarter with a mild concussion that he suffered the first time he touched the ball.
“I don’t even know how long I was out,” Sutton said. “It was like I was in a deep sleep or something.”
Redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Brewer could not wake the slumbering offense, as he completed 10 of 24 passes for 94 yards and one interception. Brewer, who was making his second career start, also ran for 80 yards and NU’s only touchdown.
But the interception, which Brewer threw late in the third quarter, sealed NU’s fate at Camp Randall Stadium. Brewer lofted an errant pass directly at senior safety Joe Stellmacher, who returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown to boost the Badgers’ lead to 27-9.
“I think there is one throw (Brewer) would like to have back, but for the most part I thought he managed the ball quite well,” Fitzgerald said.
Despite trailing by more than five scores late in the game, Fitzgerald said he never thought about benching Brewer. Still, he said he wouldn’t decide if Brewer would remain the starting quarterback until later in the week.
No matter who is under center for the Cats, Fitzgerald said the Cats have to find a way to convert turnovers into points.
NU posted three points off three Wisconsin turnovers in the first half. And although the Cats struggled to score, they kept the game close.
After the Badgers scored 10 quick points in the first quarter, the Cats put together a 52-yard touchdown drive of their own. Brewer connected with junior receiver Kim Thompson for a 29-yard diving catch that set up the Cats on the goal line for an easy score.
Joel Howell’s extra point attempt was blocked and Wisconsin kept a 10-6 advantage.
The Badgers’ lead swelled to 17-9 at halftime. But the third quarter proved disastrous.
Wisconsin scored 17 points in that period – dashing any hopes of an NU comeback.
“It really hurts,” said sophomore safety Brendan Smith, who finished with seven tackles and forced a fumble in the first quarter. “All week we have been talking about the six-inch battle that we have to win.”
But they didn’t. Wisconsin burned NU’s defense for 527 yards and maintained possession of the ball for more than 37 minutes.
Senior quarterback John Stocco balanced Hill’s rushing attack with a 220-yard outing, completing 16 of 21 passes and throwing for one touchdown and one interception.
His favorite target was sophomore tight end Travis Beckum, who bent NU’s defense for 107 yards.
Saturday’s loss marks the end of a three game road trip in which NU lost all three games – its most consecutive losses since 2002.
“We have to focus,” said Sutton. “We have to stop making mental errors. We get one bad drive and it sticks in our minds.
“We want to come out here and entertain. That is what we did last year and that is what we have to start doing this year.”
Reach Steve Silver at [email protected]
It was no surprise that Wisconsin literally ran over Northwestern 41-9 Saturday.
The Badgers boast a massive offensive line and a bruising power runner in freshman tailback P.J. Hill. And as predicted, Wisconsin ran the ball – a lot. Hill most of the game as he picked up 230 yards on 31 carries.
But what is surprising is that NU appears more out of sync at the halfway point of the season than it did in the season opener.
Northwestern tried to surprise Wisconsin with an onside kick to start Saturday’s game.
But the Badger’s were not fooled by the unorthodox decision, nor did they try any trickery of their own as Wisconsin proceeded to simply run over NU – literally.
as the Badgers mauled the Cats 41-9.
