Wisconsin Badgers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
· NCAA - FootballWalker runs for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns as Wisconsin embarrasses Rutgers 42-7
Tawee Walker ran for a career-best 198 yards and scored three touchdowns and Wisconsin dominated on both sides of the ball for the second straight week in posting a 42-7 victory over Rutgers on Saturday.
“The team is getting better,” said Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, whose squad beat Purdue 52-6 last weekend. "And just like I said last week, it’s exciting. It’s exciting, obviously, to win, but it’s exciting to see things continue to grow in front of your own face. And that’s where to me, I’m happy and proud as anything”
Braedyn Locke threw for 240 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another late as the Badgers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) remained unbeaten against Rutgers (4-2, 1-2) in six meetings and handed the Scarlet Knights their second straight loss.
“I think that we’re playing a high level of complementary football,” said Locke, who was 20 of 28 with an interception on a day the wind gusted to 22 mph. "But I don’t think that we’re at all satisfied. I don’t think that we’re close to the border or our final destination.”
Walker, who previous career high was 146 against Kansas last season when he played for Oklahoma, scored on runs of 2, 9 and 55 yards, the last one being the longest of his career and the team’s longest rush of the season. He has eight touchdowns in the last three games. Darrion Dupree also had a 2-yard TD run as the Badgers outgained Rutgers 549-271.
“I'm so blessed to be behind this line, and this O-line coach (AJ Blazek)," Walker said. “It makes it so much better when guys play hard 100% of the time. It just makes my job so much easier.”
Kyle Monangai, who was stopped on a crucial fourth-down carry at the Wisconsin 10-yard line late in the second quarter, scored on a 13-yard run early in the fourth quarter to deny the Badgers their first shutout since their season opener in 2022.
For the second straight week, Wisconsin built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Locke hit Will Pauling on a 16-yard pass to cap an 89-yard drive. Walker scored on a fourth-down 2-yard run for the other TD.
Monangai, the defending Big Ten rushing champion, was limited to 72 yards. Athan Kaliakmanis was 12 of 32 for 103 yards passing and one interception.
“The team, the whole day, couldn’t chew gum and walk at the same time as a group,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "We just couldn’t get it going, coaching, playing, everything.
Schiano refused to say Rutgers was backtracking after opening 4-0.
“I’m not ready to sit here in one game and say: 'Oh, ‘the sky is falling.’ You know what, we’ve got work to do, and we’ll do it, and we’ll get back on track."
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights came into the game as the favorites and they were awful. They couldn't run the ball. Receivers dropped passes. They had a bad snap on a late field goal attempt in the second quarter. The playcalling was not imaginative and the vaunted defense could not stop the run, allowing 309 on the ground.
“It's unacceptable,” Schiano said. “It falls on me.”
Rutgers: Plays host to UCLA Saturday.
How To Watch
How can I watch Wisconsin Badgers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
- TV Channel: Badgers at Scarlet Knights 2021 College Football, week 7, is broadcasted on BTN.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
TD | 1st Period 9:10 | Will Pauling 16 Yd pass from Braedyn Locke (Nathanial Vakos Kick) | |
TD | 1st Period 1:39 | Tawee Walker 2 Yd Run (Nathanial Vakos Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 8:14 | Darrion Dupree 2 Yd Run (Nathanial Vakos Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 4:45 | Tawee Walker 9 Yd Run (Nathanial Vakos Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 13:48 | Kyle Monangai 13 Yd Run (Jai Patel Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 11:11 | Tawee Walker 55 Yd Run (Nathanial Vakos Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 4:47 | Braedyn Locke 1 Yd Run (Nathanial Vakos Kick) |
Statistics
WIS | RUTG | |
---|---|---|
24 | 1st Downs | 13 |
7-14 | 3rd down efficiency | 5-17 |
1-1 | 4th down efficiency | 0-2 |
549 | Total Yards | 271 |
240 | Passing | 103 |
20/28 | Comp/Att | 12/32 |
8.6 | Yards per pass | 3.2 |
309 | Rushing | 168 |
47 | Rushing Attempts | 35 |
6.6 | Yards per rush | 4.8 |
5-40 | Penalties | 4-30 |
2 | Turnovers | 1 |
1 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
1 | Interceptions thrown | 1 |
34:56 | Possession | 25:04 |
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