The UW football team will head west this Saturday for its lone non-conference road match-up when they clash with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas at 9 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
It's a kind of exciting situation going on the road, playing in a good atmosphere, playing a good team, so it's a good vibe for the first away game,"" senior quarterback Tyler Donovan said. ""Las Vegas is Las Vegas, it's an exciting town.""
The No. 5 Badgers (1-0) aim to stay undefeated after last Saturday's 42-21 victory over Washington State at Camp Randall Stadium. Donovan led the Badgers, throwing for three touchdowns while running for one more. Donovan's performance earned him Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
""Tyler executed the plan at hand and played the game very, very well,"" head coach Bret Bielema said in his weekly press conference.
Senior wide receiver Luke Swan also had one of his finest games as a Badger, going for career highs in three statistical categories, with eight receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown.
The Badger defense, after allowing two touchdowns on the first two drives, tightened up and forced the Cougars to punt on four of their next five drives. Junior cornerback Allen Langford knows the defense can do much better.
""Just playing our game and getting used to the game tempo,"" Langford said. ""We have to get used to playing a different offense and lining up against someone different. We just need to take our time, read our keys and do our job. If everybody on our team does our job, we'll all be in that position to make plays.""
The Rebels (1-0) are coming off of a 23-16 win at Utah State in the opening week. UNLV, a 2-10 team last season, snapped a 15-game road losing streak with the victory. Freshman quarterback Travis Dixon passed for 141 yards while running for 129 and a score.
Bielema was impressed with Dixon on film, telling reporters to ""flip a coin"" when asked whether Dixon was more dangerous passing or running.
""What impressed me was that he had a good understanding of where plays were supposed to hit, and where he could bounce it to and still have the ability to run,"" Bielema said. ""If he draws back and doesn't have an answer at the end of the field, he has the same option that our quarterback has, he can just take off running, and as our defensive players move away from the line of scrimmage there's always that threat of the quarterback scramble.""
According to junior defensive lineman Mike Newkirk, the Badgers have used multiple scout team running backs and quarterbacks to try and emulate Dixon's style and quickness. Execution will be key in containing the Rebel's quarterback, Newkirk said.
""I think the coaches have a good game plan in store for us,"" Newkirk said. ""I have confidence that they put us in a position to win the game, and it's our job to go out and execute. So as long as ... we're taking care of our responsibilities, playing fundamentally sound technique-wise, things like that, I think we'll be successful.""
Defensively, the Rebels are lead by linebacker Beau Bell and junior defensive lineman Jeremy Geathers. Bell, a senior and preseason first-team All-MWC selection, forced two fumbles in UNLV's opening win. Geathers garnered second-team All-MWC honors last season and is another player to keep an eye on.
