The final score of 18-6 is one of the least impressive statistics from Wisconsin's Big Ten opener at Penn State Saturday.
Wisconsin traveled to Penn State this weekend and racked up big numbers in nearly every category.
Brooks Bollinger started as quarterback after missing two games because of a liver contusion and, with the assistance of redshirt freshman running back Anthony Davis, brought the traditional running game back. Bollinger threw for 80 yards and rushed for 112 yards while Davis ran for a game-high 200 yards on 37 carries.
Davis' 200-yard rushing performance was the highest of his career.
'Brooks made a lot of things happen on third downs,' UW Head Coach Barry Alvarez said. 'When the quarterback breaks the line of scrimmage, there's a lot of running room.'
The return of Wisconsin's running game was the key to their sustained drives as they marched down the field at Beaver Stadium. The Badgers far surpassed their average third-down conversion rate and converted 10 of 17 third downs against Penn State.
A combination of a high third-down conversion rate, their domination of the time clock and the number of yards gained resulted in one unusually low number'the number of punts. Wisconsin gave their punters a day off and did not punt once.
A solid Wisconsin defense and the power of senior defensive lineman Wendell Bryant kept Penn State's offensive line on their toes and their yardage low. Bryant broke through the line for 4.5 sacks on Penn State quarterbacks Matt Senneca and Zack Mills.
'Wendell was all over the field and the pressure we kept on the quarterback, and Wendell, especially, really was a factor in the game,' Alvarez said.
