EVANSTON, Ill. — Eighth-ranked Wisconsin scored its first win at Ryan Field since 1999, downing Northwestern 21-7 on Saturday to keep pace in the race to win the Big Ten West Division.
Corey Clement ran for 106 yards and a touchdown and Jazz Peavy scored on a 46-yard run to lead a Badgers squad that once again benefited from its dominant defense.
Wisconsin shut down a Northwestern offense that's held its own against the Big Ten's best this season. Conor Sheehy forced a fumble when he sacked Clayton Thorson with the Wildcats (4-5, 3-3 Big Ten) threatening early in the fourth quarter. That led to Clement's 2-yard touchdown run that made it a 14-point game and helped secure a third straight win for the Badgers (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten).
Clement had 32 carries — three shy of his career high — and finished with 100 rushing yards for the third time in four games. Peavy's 46-yarder in the second quarter was the first rushing touchdown of his career. He also had 73 yards receiving and a 24-yard punt return.
The victory snapped Wisconsin's 17-year losing streak in Evanston. Several big plays by Peavy and a fumble recovery by D'Cota Dixon with Northwestern threatening early in the fourth helped change that.
The Wildcats drove to the UW 19 yard line early in the quarter, but Thorson fumbled as he was sacked by Sheehy. Dixon returned the fumble 22 yards to the Wildcats' 45, setting up the drive that culminated with Clement's score. A two-point conversion by Alec Ingold made it 21-14 with 8:51 left.
Starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook completed 11 of 19 passes for 92 yards, and the Badgers rolled up 333 total yards while dominating time of possession, 40:25 to 19:35.
Thorson completed 28 of 52 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown. Austin Carr added 132 yards receiving, including a 13-yard TD grab late in the first half, and Justin Jackson ran for 42 yards.
Wisconsin held Northwestern to a season low 39 yards rushing. The Wildcats entered the game averaging 138.8.
The Badgers have won 13 of their last 15 road games in Big Ten play. Overall, UW is 9-1 in its last 10 games away from Camp Randall Stadium, where the Badgers return next Saturday to host Illinois on Homecoming in a game that kicks off at 2:30 p.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
