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Rapid Reaction: Wisconsin breaks records in win against Illinois State
By Tammy Madsen
Published:
Wisconsin broke a couple of scoring records during the team’s 38-0 victory on Saturday night against Illinois State at Camp Randall Stadium.
The game marked the first meeting between the teams.
The Badgers had a lackluster start, racking up a pair of personal fouls that gave the Redbirds’ first-down opportunities.
Illinois State posed a red-zone threat and the Redbirds faced 3rd-and-7 on Wisconsin’s 9-yard line until Badgers strong safety John Torchio picked off Illinois State quarterback Zach Annexstad at the goal line.
Torchio, a redshirt senior, ran 100 yards for a touchdown with 1 minutes, 52 seconds left in the first quarter to record the longest interception return in school history.
The previous record was a 99-yard return for a TD by tight end Jake Ferguson in 2017 against Utah State.
Cornerback Max Lofy and free safety Hunter Wohler had critical blocks late during Torchio’s TD dash.
Less than 5 minutes later, running back Braelon Allen followed up in the second quarter with a 96-yard run for a touchdown to post the longest run for a TD in school history.
The previous record was a 93-yard run for a TD by running back James White against Indiana in 2013.
Kicker Vito Calvaruso, a grad transfer from Arkansas, booted a 28-yard field goal to increase Wisconsin’s lead to 17-0 with 3:11 to go in the first half.
The Badgers committed five penalties for 37 yards in the first half, which was a lowlight of the game.
Allen, a sophomore, finished with 14 rushes for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. The standout, the team’s leading rusher in 2021, has posted 100-plus rushing yards in 9 games out of 13 in his Wisconsin career.
Allen’s second score was a 1-yard run on 4th-and-1 that pushed the Badgers’ lead to 24-0 with 9:36 left in the third quarter.
Chimere Dike paced receivers with 2 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Dike was wide open in the end zone when he caught a 16-yard TD with 2:55 to go in the third. That score continued Wisconsin’s domination at 31-0.
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz had a solid game, completing 14 of 16 passes for 219 yards and 1 touchdown in three-plus quarters. Myles Burkett, a true freshman, played the final 7:43 of the game.
The Badgers defense held Illinois State to 221 total yards, including 72 in the second half.
Wisconsin hosts Washington State on Sept. 10.
Tammy Madsen covers football for Saturday Tradition. The veteran sports journalist has written about Wisconsin football and Badgers basketball for many years, for many publications.