Wisconsin runs over Minnesota to win Paul Bunyan’s Axe

Taiwan Deal rushed for 90 and two scores and Wisconsin (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) kept Paul Bunyan’s Axe, which goes to the victor of the most-played rivalry game in college football. Former walk-on cornerback turned running back, Dare Ogunbowale rushed for a career high 155 yards and the Badgers offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage en route to a XX-21 win. The Badgers finished the game with 62 carries for 257 yards and four touchdowns. But most importantly, the Badgers retained Paul Bunyon’s Axe. Inflation in the number of bowl games means a whopping 80 teams will be needed to fill all the slots this year. Hard as it is to believe, Wisconsin was ranked 14th – dead last – in rushing offense in Big Ten games this season, averaging 109.6 yards coming in. K J Maye also fumbled. The result of that was not only a deficit in points but Wisconsin doubled Minnesota in time of possession 40 and a half minutes to 19 and a half.

The Badgers took the ball and began marching down the field, but the drive stalled in Gopher territory, which led to Gaglione kicking a 46-yard field goal.

Scoring slowed in the third quarter as Wisconsin managed just a Rafael Gaglianone field goal to take a 31-14 lead. Alex Erickson caught six of those passes for 66 yards, with Jazz Peavy, Ogunbowale and Jordan Frederick each adding a catch.

That’s actually awesome, despite Wisconsin’s habit of blowing holes in the Gophers defense, because the Badgers severely increased their degree-of-difficulty this year. “And especially in Minnesota for the Axe – we couldn’t have asked for a better time to bust out the rushing game”. They allowed only 12.3 points per game heading into Saturday, and allowed 14 to the Gophers’ offense on Saturday.

The defense yet again deserves credit for holding an opponent to under 300 total yards, while forcing five turnovers and pressuring Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner all afternoon.

The Badgers answered with touchdowns on their next two possessions. Redshirt senior safety Tanner McEvoy had another two interceptions in the win. 22 of those 24 plays were runs, with the Badgers overmatching the Gophers. Rodney Smith was the leading rusher for the Gophers and he had 35 yards on 7 carries. The Gophers missed out on the first of those and now must wait to hear their bowl game fate. Schobert came up with the pick and ran it 48 yards for a touchdown, but a targeting call on Cichy blocking behind the play brought it back. After the extra point, the Gophers had trimmed the Badgers lead to just 10.

The Gophers have won the axe just twice in the last 21 years, and the 12-game losing streak is the longest drought for either side in the history of a 125-year-old rivalry.