Sophomore running back P.J. Hill reignited the Badger football season Saturday, as he rushed for 184 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns en route to a 44-3 thrashing of Northern Illinois at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Badgers (2-2 Big Ten, 6-2 overall) dominated the game from the start and were able to run all over an injury depleted NIU team that has struggled mightily this season.
Already up 7-0 early in the first quarter, P.J. Hill, who topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season, took Donovan's handoff and powered up the middle for nearly 10 yards where he spun out of a tackle and sprinted his way to a 72-yard score, the longest of his career.
Coach Settles (running back coach) said he'd been waiting for the new slimmer P.J. Hill to bust one,"" Hill said. ""He got it today, but I heard a lot of people say it also, but like I say, 'The opportunity was there and I took it.'""
The Badgers amassed 331 yards on the ground with all members of the running game contributed to the blowout.
Sophomore tailback Lance Smith beat everyone to the corner for an easy touchdown in the second quarter, but the surprise of the day came from the fullback position.
Junior fullback Chris Pressley, who had a heartbreaking week as his grandmother and uncle died unexpectedly before the Penn State game, had a career day scored his first collegiate touchdown in the second quarter, a 10-yard, bruising run up the middle for the score.
""That was very exciting, it was my first one ... so I was like I'm going to get in there, this opportunity might not come again,"" Pressley said. ""It was very important just to emphasize to the lineman how much their work counts.""
In what may have been the most complete game for the Badgers so far this season, the defense completely turned around from the Penn State game a week ago, as they showed how dominant they could be.
The huskies did not move the ball well as they managed only six first downs, their first not coming until late in the second quarter. At the half, UW had 282 total yards to NIU's 31.
The defense created some turnovers as well, as sophomore safety Shane Carter intercepted two passes, one of which was almost taken back for a touchdown, but Carter inadvertently stepped out of bounds on the four yard-line.
""We were taking a lot of heat all year,"" junior cornerback Allen Langford said. ""We just wanted to go out there and just play ball, and that's what we did.""
The blowout was a much needed lift for a Badger squad ranked No. 5 in the nation a mere three weeks ago, as they are now bowl eligible and on the right track for the last four games of the season.
