UW's (4-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) defense played to its potential and the offense did just enough when it mattered to get a victory in the Badgers' Big Ten opener against Iowa at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday night.
The game could not have started off any better for the Badgers as they defensively dominated Iowa on their first possession, holding them to a quick three-and-out following UW freshman defensive back Aaron Henry's sack on third down.
I'm not surprised with Aaron and what he does,"" junior cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu said. ""He plays like a seasoned veteran so anything he does is really expected. He's not a freshman anymore and we expect him to make big plays out there.""
From that point on, UW's defense locked down and held Iowa to 10 total yards in the rest of the first quarter.
With just under five minutes remaining in the half, Iowa put the first points on the board when freshman kicker Daniel Murray capitalized with a 41-yard field goal to give Iowa a 3-0 lead.
UW regained possession of the ball with just over two minutes left in the first half and moved the ball down to the end zone where a bizarre play occurred.
Sophomore running back P.J. Hill rushed for 17 yards before he was stripped near the goal line, a scrum ensued, and after an inadvertent whistle and a Badger recovery in the end zone declared a touchdown, the play was reviewed and overturned.
Needless to say, UW scored two plays later when senior quarterback Tyler Donovan found junior tight end Travis Beckum for a touchdown.
""When you get in those two minute modes, you can really get in the groove,"" Donovan said. ""As an offense, we've come up big in those situations and we have got to keep on doing that.""
However, Iowa was not shook as they answered right back with a five-play 62-yard touchdown drive of their own with just four seconds remaining in the half to head to the locker room with a 10-7 lead.
UW's freshman returnman David Gilreath fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Iowa recovered deep in Badger territory. The Badger defense remained stout and blocked the Hawkeye's field goal attempt to keep the score 10-7 in Iowa's favor.
As the fourth quarter came around, UW went back to Wisconsin-style football by pounding the ball with P.J. Hill. As with the game at UNLV, it seemed Hill was making it very clear that he wanted the ball in a critical situation of the game.
""He's always going to ask for the ball and we're going to give it to him,"" Bielema said. ""You would much rather have a back that asks for the football than one that just stands behind the offensive line.""
The drive consisted of 11 plays, 10 of which were run through Hill, including a two-yard touchdown romp that gave the Badgers a 14-10 lead with 9:42 remaining in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, Iowa's Derrell Johnson-Koulianos returned senior UW kicker Taylor Mehlhaff's kick 44 yards to set Iowa up in great field position. A seven-play, 33-yard drive followed only to be shot down when Aaron Henry recorded yet another sack on third down, forcing Iowa to settle for a field goal.
UW tacked on a field goal by Taylor Mehlhaff after a nearly four-and-a-half minute drive to force Iowa to score a touchdown, a drive which includied two huge third down conversions.
Iowa nearly did score a touchdown as Johnson-Koulianos slipped behind the UW defense and watched the ball barely go over his outstretched arms, sealing the game for the Badgers.
""It's Big Ten season, and we kicked it off the right way tonight,"" Henry said.
