Early scoring flurry sends No. 6 Wisconsin past Purdue 49-20

The Badgers have intercepted 14 passes and have the Big Ten’s third-best pass defense.

Saturday’s senior day in West Lafayete was a time for recognition and reflection, as memories of the last four seasons resurfaced, emotions bubbled over and tears were shed.

Through the air, Houston and redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook combined for 12-for-15 and 191 yards, showing a balanced offensive attack for the first time since the Iowa game on October 22. Purdue is giving up 38.4 points and 466.9 yards per game this season on defense, including 248.8 rushing yards per contest. The Boilermakers are 0-4 since interim coach Gerad Parker took over for Darrell Hazell, who was sacked last month.

Wisconsin has now outgained and outrushed each of its last five opponents, including Ohio State. After being outscored 114-17 in the second halves of the past four games, the Boilermakers had only a 14-10 deficit in the final 30 minutes Saturday. The guy started the game with tackles in the backfield and as a great run stopper. Along with J.J., a three-time National Football League defensive player of the year victor, middle brother Derek also plays professionally.

One of those players leading that scheme is redshirt sophomore quarterback David Blough, who commands the Big Ten’s top passing offense, which averages 309.2 yards per game. He finished 7 of 9 for 89 yards and a touchdown. Six players have accounted for those scores. If the Badgers can win out, they could very well find themselves in the college football playoff and may be able to control their own destiny with a little help along the way. “Early on, our defense bottled up the football, but then we lost some things in that turnover stretch in the second quarter”. Edwards and senior safety Leo Musso. Blough has thrown 16 interceptions, out of 257 attempts, for an average of one interception every 16.1 attempts. Week after week Wisconsin’s defense stifles its opponents, with last week’s 48-3 victory over IL no exception. Drew Brees couldn’t do it. Kyle Orton couldn’t do it.

You can look at it over, under, sideways and down and still not come up with a good reason to think Purdue will upset the University of Wisconsin football team today at Ross-Ade Stadium.

In that game, quarterback Billy Dicken passed for three scores and tailback Edwin Watson ran for three in a 45-20 victory. But two Wisconsin touchdowns in eight seconds flipped the momentum. The Badgers attempted only 14 passes – including one by Clement – and ran for 363 yards.

Wisconsin’s defense has been stingy all season and ranks tied for third nationally in points allowed per game. The question of whether or not Wisconsin would get the nod as two loss team became foggier with Ohio State and MI still well ahead of Wisconsin in the CFP rankings.

There is a symbiotic relationship between offenses and defenses, of course.

Three turnovers in the second quarter allowed UW to bust the doors wide open. He wisely slowed up near the Purdue 35 so his blockers could get in front and then cut back inside and reached the Purdue 20 for a 34-yard gain. The offense can’t move the ball or it implodes. Purdue wraps up its season next weekend against Indiana. After starting the season with four straight wins, Wisconsin dropped a pair of seven-point losses to MI and Ohio State in the middle of the season. – They are two victories from playing in the Big Ten title game for the fourth time in the six-year history of the event.