The Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) took care of business against the Eastern Michigan Eagles (1-3), lighting up the scoreboard during the 54-10 win in the rain at Camp Randall on Saturday.
Wisconsin was tested early, trailing 7-3 at the end of the first quarter after giving up an opening drive touchdown and throwing away an interception on the ensuing drive.
They took the lead for the first time in the game with eight minutes remaining in the first half on a 4-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Colton Joseph. They piled it on from there, ultimately scoring 41 unanswered points in the win.
Fifth-year wide receiver Tyrell Henry’s performance was the story of the day. He recorded 160 yards and a toe-dragging touchdown on 14 receptions, breaking former tight end Matt Nyquist’s previous program record for most catches in a single game — a record that had stood since 1995. This earned Henry the impressive mark of being PFF’s highest graded wide receiver this week.
Despite the impressive feat, Henry was strictly business during the postgame press conference.
“It’s a blessing for sure and I’m happy about it, but [onto the] next team for sure,” Henry said following the game.
Colton Joseph also had himself a game. After missing someon some of his early throws and throwing an interception on the second drive, he gained his confidence back when he connected with fifth-year wideout Chris Brooks Jr. on a 75-yard touchdown pass in the second2nd quarter to make it a 17-7 game.
It was smooth sailing from there, as Joseph wound up throwing for 362 yards in the game and a whopping 302 yards in the first half alone, setting the record for the most ever in a single half in program history.
Joseph credits his teammates for helping him to bounce back in the way that he did.
“Guys were hyping me up, [saying] one play doesn’t tell the whole story,” Joseph said. “My teammates helped bring my confidence back.”
Joseph’s career afternoon was aided by a breakout performance from senior tight end Jacob Harris, who hauled in three receptions for 89 yards including a dazzling 32-yard diving one-handed over the shoulder grab near the end of the second2nd quarter.
During his postgame press conference, head coach Luke Fickell expressed his satisfaction with how the team was able to stick the course after trailing early and play complementary football the rest of the way through.
“I’m kind of glad it happened the way it did, as opposed to last week when [the game] started off really different,” Fickell said. “It allowed us to kind of have to buckle down and make sure we believe in what we’re saying.”
If it weren’t for Joseph and Henry’s record-setting performances, the defense would’ve been the story of the game. After allowing 67 yards and a touchdown on Eastern Michigan’s opening drive, the Badgers stiffened up and only gave up 45 yards for the rest of the first half, intercepting two passes along the way.
The latter was a steal from fifth-year safety Matt Jung, who climbed the ladder and snatched it over the outstretched hands of Eastern Michigan tight end Joshua Long, which set up a touchdown by the offense and capped off an incredible 28-0 second2nd quarter.
They continued their rampage in the second half, capitalizing on a Sebastian Cheeks strip sack with a Cooper Catalano scoop-and-score on the first drive of the third3rd quarter. When it was all said and done, the defense allowed just 216 total yards of offense and generated three turnovers.
Wisconsin’s defense entered the game without a single takeaway through their first two games of the season, but the turnovers came in bunches against Eastern Michigan.
Sophomore linebacker Mason Posa, who recorded his first career interception in the second2nd quarter, said he was not phased after the team gave up the opening drive touchdown.
“We noticed that they weren’t doing anything special,” Posa said during media availability postgame. “We got it fixed up. It’s just, again, everyone trusting and believing in one another and just dominating.”
The Badgers capped off their dominant afternoon with a 55-yard blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by freshman cornerback Donovan Dunmore on the last play of the game — a fitting end to a resounding win.
The special teams unit in particular has been an exceptional bright spot so far this season.
After surrendering a costly muffed kickoff in the opener against Notre Dame, the Badgers’ special teams have played clean football since and blocked a punt and field goal, returning both for touchdowns.
Not to mention kicker Gavin Lahm, who is a perfect 7-7 on field goal attempts this season, and punter Sean West, who dropped a 70- yard bomb inside the 1one-yard line for what could’ve very well been the best punt in program history.
After the game, Luke Fickell emphasized that the way the team carried themselves throughout the full 60sixty minutes was just as important as the result itself.
“Every win is important and every opportunity is important, but I think the way that which we went about today is more important,” Fickell said. “That’s closer to what complementary football for us looks like.”
The victory is a tremendous confidence booster for this Badger team, but they will need the defense to stay onand par and for Joseph to play consistent, clean football like he did on Saturday as opposed to his first two games of the season.
That will be no easy task against a strong Nittany Lions defense, who are allowing just 201.0 total yards of offense and have six takeaways on the season.
Nonetheless, wide receiver Chris Brooks Jr. believes that their performance against Eastern Michigan gave him and the rest of the offense the confidence they needed to go toe-to-toe with some of the nation’s best.
It gives us a lot of hope and momentum and confidence in ourselves that we can go there and compete with them,” Brooks said. “It’s really good to have that momentum going into it.”
Wisconsin looks to carry their momentum over to Happy Valley when they take on No. 13 Penn State on Sept. 26.
