After a sub-par first quarter performance created a two-touchdown deficit for the Wisconsin football team, quarterback Allan Everidge revitalized the offense with more than 300 passing yards, allowing the Badgers to score 51 unanswered points and soundly defeat Marshall 51-14 Saturday.
He did a tremendous job being a leader, stepping up, and getting us down the field when the running game was kind of hurting at the moment,"" freshman tailback John Clay said.
In the first quarter, nothing seemed to go right for the Badgers. Wisconsin went three-and-out on all but one drive and gave away 40 yards to Marshall from penalties alone.
But after going 0-for-4 in the first quarter, Everidge completed 17-of-26 passes for 308 yards and one touchdown. After netting a mere 25 rushing yards in the first quarter, tailbacks P.J. Hill, Zach Brown and Clay accumulated 147 yards and five touchdowns by the game's end.
The catalyst for the turnaround in UW's performance was a 36-yard toss to junior tight end Garrett Graham, who got wide open on the left sideline. It put UW beyond midfield for the first time. From that point - a few minutes into the second quarter - through the rest of the game, the defense never allowed another score, and the offense capitalized on nearly every drive.
""We just got in a rhythm there, and I think you could kind of see the pendulum swing,"" head coach Bret Bielema said.
The Badgers were ahead 17-14 by halftime but started to really bury the Herd after defensive backs Niles Brinkley and Shane Carter caught interceptions on three consecutive drives.
Brinkley ran 16 yards for in his first interception, and barely kept his feet in-bounds after snagging the ball when it bounced off a Herd receiver's fingertips for his second catch. Carter looked like a receiver when he weaved across the field and ran 43 yards after picking off Marshall quarterback Mark Cann's throw.
""Big plays like that give the team a boost of energy,"" said Brinkley. ""All I wanted to do was give the offense the ball back so they could be in position to score.""
And the offense took advantage by scoring on two-of-three turnover opportunities.
A series of 20+ yard passes downfield with Hill, Brown or Clay finishing off the drive in the final few yards characterized the typical UW drive.
""Everybody thinks we didn't throw last week because we couldn't,"" Everidge said. ""They were shutting some things down but we got it going after that.""
While the Badgers were still behind, Everidge launched a 42-yarder to sophomore receiver Kyle Jefferson, who clutched the ball while between two defenders.
That play set up a successful 45-yard field goal against the wind for freshman placekicker Philip Welch.
Tight end Garrett Graham caught a 26-yard touchdown pass midway into the third quarter after getting wide open - something he was able to do over and over.
""He's got a magical cloak or something,"" Everidge said. ""He's just a tremendous athlete, and he makes my job easy - that's for sure.""
Wisconsin's running game wasn't shabby either.
Hill went 57 yards in 18 carries, Clay went 56 yards in 11 carries and Brown went 36 yards in 7 carries. Hill and Clay scored two touchdowns each while Brown stepped into the end zone once.
Clay kept the momentum going through the fourth quarter by consistently pummeling up the middle, sometimes with a defender or two on his back.
""I try to think that I shouldn't just get tacked by one person,"" Clay said. ""I like to have a whole gang try to take me down.""
After letting two touchdowns slip by in the first 17 minutes, the defense stepped it up by putting pressure on the quarterback to shut down the Herd's passing options.
Carter credited the defensive line for his interception.
""I'm thankful for anytime they can get their hands up and pressure the quarterback,"" Carter said. ""Because when you have to get rid of the ball fast, you get flustered.""
Middle linebacker Jaeve McFadden racked up nine tackles, and defensive lineman Dan Moore tackled six Marshall players.
The Herd's Cann completed 20-of-39 passes for 211 yards, and leading rusher Dariu Marshall gained 50 yards in 15 carries. Marshall's top receiver was Dariu Passmore, who caught seven passes for 95 yards.
""To walk off that field scoring 51 straight points without giving up any makes us want to pack up our bags, head to Fresno [State] and keep playing,"" Bielema said.
