Postgame Notes: Wisconsin vs. Illinois
October 19, 2013 | Football
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Wisconsin Postgame Notes
Wisconsin at Illinois
Oct. 19, 2013
Champaign, Ill. – Memorial Stadium
Team Notes
Tonight’s captains were WR Jared Abbrederis, LB Ethan Armstrong, LG Ryan Groy and S Jerry Ponio.
The Badgers scored a touchdown on their first offensive drive of the game. It is the third time this season that has happened. The other two times were Wisconsin’s first two games of the season.
Wisconsin has worn red helmets three times this season. In those games, UW has scored an average of 46.3 points (139-38) and outscored its opponents by 33.7 points per game.
UW has won eight of the last nine meetings with Illinois and now leads the all-time series with the Illini 37-36-7.
Tonight’s win was Wisconsin’s first road night victory against a Big Ten team since a 42-24 win at Michigan State on Oct. 26, 2002. UW is now 6-9 all-time on the road at night against Big Ten teams.
With RB Melvin Gordon going over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, Wisconsin has had at least one 1,000-yard rusher in nine-straight seasons, the longest active streak in the country.
Individual Notes
Sophomore RB Melvin Gordon rushed for at least 140 yards for the sixth time in seven games this season and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. That ties P.J. Hill (2006) for the quickest to 1,000 yards rushing for any UW player in a season. UW has now had at least one 1,000 rusher in each of the last nine seasons, the longest active streak in the country.
Gordon tied his career high with three touchdowns. He scored on a 26-yard TD run in the first quarter, a 1-yard run in the second quarter and a 13-yard run in the third quarter. He has scored 11 touchdowns this season and 16 in his career.
Senior RB James White scored three touchdowns, rushing for two and catching one. White now has 39 career rushing TDs and 41 career touchdowns. Both of those lead all active FBS players.
White is the seventh player in UW history to score at least 40 touchdowns in a career. He is now tied with John Clay for sixth place on UW’s all-time list with 41 career TDs. Wisconsin is 21-2 when White scores at least one touchdown.
Senior DL Ethan Hemer recovered the first fumble of his career, scooping one up inside the Illinois 10-yard line in the first quarter.
That fumble recovery set up senior TE Brian Wozniak’s second TD reception of the season (and the second of his career), a 2-yard pass in the first quarter.
Senior WR Jared Abbrederis caught eight passes for 106 yards, going over the 100-yard receiving plateau for the third time this season and the ninth time in his career.
Junior LB Derek Landisch recorded his first career sack, forcing Illinois to settle for a field goal in the second quarter.
Kenzel Doe’s 54-yard kickoff return was the longest of his career and the longest since Jared Abbrederis’ 60-yard return against Minnesota on Nov. 12, 2011.
