In a game where Bucky ended up doing more push-ups than a West Point recruit (385 if you were not counting), the Badgers finally showed their full offensive potential, albeit against a lowly opponent in Austin Peay.
Efficiency was the key for the Badgers in their win over the Governors. Wisconsin scored a touchdown on each of their seven drives in the first half, as well as the two that began the third quarter. In addition to scoring on every opportunity in the red zone over that span, Wisconsin was also perfect on third down conversions.
Then again, the team only faced three third downs in that entire stretch.
""It's always been the case at Wisconsin,"" senior quarterback Scott Tolzien said. ""That's how we win games at Wisconsin: ball control and just moving the chains, and moving the chains really is just efficiency.""
Tolzien himself was close to the epitome of efficiency in the first half. Through two quarters, the second-year starter racked up 217 passing yards with 15 completions on 17 attempts. That completion percentage of 88.2 percent was fifth best in school history. Along with three touchdowns, Tolzien finished the game with a 253.7 passer rating.
The 618 total yards of offense Wisconsin accumulated over the game was good for sixth best in program history. However, the Badgers needed just 68 plays on offense to reach that mark and had the ball for only 32 minutes—just barely over half the time.
Eleven of Tolzien's 15 completions went for more than 10 yards though, which led to a game average of nine yards per play, allowing Wisconsin to march down the field in quick and effective fashion.
If Tolzien's play was the epitome of efficiency Saturday, however, then freshman running back James White's day was the definition of a breakout performance.
In a feat not accomplished since 2007 when P.J. Hill did so against the Citadel, White rushed for four touchdowns against the Governors while racking up a personal best and team-leading 145 yards on the day.
""James is a very gifted football player with great speed, and again, because he's not out there every down, he comes in with those fresh legs and it really benefits everybody,"" said head coach Bret Bielema, who did not even know White had four touchdowns until post-game interviews.
White's highlight play of the game was a 66-yard dash to the end zone in the second quarter that extended the score to 21-3. White said he knew he had a defender on him at the end of the run, but was able to burst through with just enough speed to score.
""I know coach is counting on me, so I have to hold on to the football and just do my job, and more carries may come my way,"" White said.
In a game that Austin Peay head coach Rick Crishtophel called a ""good old fashion butt whooping,"" the Badgers showed that they could not only put an offensive and defensive beat-down, but do so with accuracy and efficiency, which definitely should translate into great things as the team enters Big Ten play.
