MADISON, Wis – The Wisconsin football team used a 14-point halftime lead to outlast South Dakota 27-13 in its second game of the season Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Badgers got out to a flying start as running back Chez Mellusi scampered for 9 yards into the endzone to cap off a seven-play, 75-yard drive in the first three minutes of action. It is the second consecutive season in which Mellusi has found paydirt in the first two games.
The air-raid offense took full effect into the first quarter as Van Dyke connected with CJ Williams for a 50-yard score to take a 14-0 lead. It was Van Dyke's first passing touchdown as a Badger and Williams' first collegiate score.
The sides traded scoreless possessions into the second quarter until South Dakota's Will Leyland got the Coyotes on the board with a 25-yard field goal. Wisconsin drove down the field and responded with a 24-yard field goal from Nathanial Vakos as the half expired.
South Dakota found momentum out of the break, putting together a 10-0 run before the Badgers pushed the lead to 20-13 thanks to a 50-yard field goal from Vakos. The Ohio transfer has now made two 50-plus yard attempts in his UW career, making him the sixth Badger kicker to do such.
Mellusi added to the lead in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard rushing touchdown to make it 27-13. The sixth year was the focal point of an 11-play, 85-yard drive, which he capped off. He now has two career multi-rushing touchdown games with the Badgers, with the previous performance coming last season during Week 1 against Buffalo.
A swarming Wisconsin defense all but sealed the deal on the next drive, forcing a three-and-out to hand the ball back to the Badgers. Freshman running back tandem Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones each saw action on the final drive of the game as the two helped the Badgers burn over six minutes off the clock to close the contest.
Van Dyke finished his day throwing for 217 yards on 17-of-27 attempts and one touchdown.
The running backs dominated, yet again, despite an injury to Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker holding him out. Cade Yacamelli stepped up in his place, posting a career-high day with 73 rushing yards on eight carries. Mellusi took the brunt of the load today, finishing with 16 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams ended as the team's leading receiver, racking up 53 yards and a touchdown. Will Pauling led the Badgers in receptions with four for 48 yards. It is the ninth time the Illinois native has led Wisconsin in receptions in just two seasons.
The Badger defense was stout in the victory, holding South Dakota to 2-for-11 on third down and under 125 rushing yards. Safety Hunter Wohler led the Badgers in tackles for the 10th time in his career, wrapping up the ball carrier eight times. Albany transfer Elijah Hills was instrumental on the defensive line, making a sack and two tackles for loss. It's the second consecutive week Hills has had a sack and a TFL in the game. Hills' linemate Curtis Neal recorded a career high in tackles for the second consecutive week, posting four on Saturday. Christian Alliegro also got involved in the backfield, racking up a career-high 1.5 TFLs, while edge Darryl Peterson added a sack as well.
STRAIGHT FROM THE FIELD
Head coach Luke Fickell
"You never quite know exactly how things are going to turn out. I had a good idea that we were going to be tested and tested in a different way. We got tested in the first week, we got tested again this week. But I'm telling you that these are the things that continue to make us grow. These are the things that get you battle-tested."
Up Next: The Badgers head into the final non-conference game of the season against No. 4 Alabama next Saturday. Kickoff at Camp Randall is set for 11:00 a.m. on Fox. The Crimson Tide are 1-0 following last week's 63-0 win over Western Kentucky. They meet USF on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
