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Rapid Reaction: Wisconsin overcomes slow start, fends off Northwestern’s upset bid
Published:
Final: No. 10 Wisconsin 33, Northwestern 24
Key play: Alex Hornibrook throws 61-yard pass to Quintez Cephus
After Hornibrook had an awful first half, he stepped into a nice deep ball to Cephus, who nearly took it all the way. That set up the go-ahead touchdown, which proved to be the game-winning touchdown. It was exactly the throw Hornibrook and the Badger offense needed to relax.
Credit Paul Chryst for continuing to let Hornibrook air it out on third downs. The Badgers could’ve easily gone conservative out of the break. Instead, he let his quarterback loose and it helped Wisconsin pull away.
Offensive star: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin RB
OK, so Taylor technically had his worst statistical game of his career from a yards per carry standpoint. But he still racked up 80 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. While Taylor didn’t get that one big breakaway run he usually gets, he was steady for Wisconsin.
Northwestern tried loading the box, which was a result of Taylor’s presence. That opened up play-action throws downfield, and ultimately allowed Wisconsin to find an offensive rhythm in the second half.
What it means: Wisconsin avoids that disappointing loss
In the first half, it felt like another one of those Wisconsin losses to a lesser-talented team. Three first-half turnovers had a lot to do with that. When the Badgers went into the break trailing, there were probably plenty of nervous people in Madison. They remembered the 2015 and 2014 losses to Northwestern.
Instead of playing tight in the second half, we saw the Wisconsin team that outscored teams 73-0 in the final two quarters. Well, at least we did for the final one and a half quarters. Can Wisconsin continue that formula against better teams? Perhaps. Penn State did that all last year (including the B1G Championship).
For now, though, all that matters is that the Badgers passed their first test.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.