MADISON, Wis. – Allan Everidge led a powerful Wisconsin offense,
delivering 308 yards and one touchdown through the air on 17-of-26 passing
as the No. 11-ranked Badgers scored 51 unanswered points to erase an early
Marshall lead.
Five Wisconsin players combined for 158 yards and six touchdowns on the
ground. Wisconsin tallied 486 yards overall. The Badger defense forced
three Marshall turnovers, including two interceptions by cornerback Niles
Brinkley.
Marshall was led offensively by wide receiver Darius Passmore who finished
the day with 95 yards on seven receptions. Freshman Mark Cann threw for
211 yards but had two costly interceptions. Darius Marshall led the Herd
on the ground with 50 yards and, he accounted for both Marshall
touchdowns.
The Herd startled a near capacity crowd of 80,386 in historic Camp Randall
Stadium by jumping out to a 14-0 lead with 13:34 left in the first half.
Marshall’s first score came on a one yard rush from Darius Marshall at
4:08 in the first quarter, just three plays after Cann connected with
Passmore for a 36 yard completion to set the Herd up with first-and-goal.
Cann continued to complete crucial third down passes to keep the chains
moving on Marshall’s next drive, including a 25 yard screen to Lee Smith
to the Badgers’ one yard line. On the next play, Darius Marshall punched
in his second touchdown to put the Herd up 14-0.
The Badgers regained control of the game and took the lead with scores on
three of their final four possessions of the half. P.J. Hill and Zach
Phillip recorded rushing scores of three and two yards respectively and
Philip Welch booted a 45 yard field goal to give Wisconsin a three point
lead heading to the locker room.
Marshall dug itself into a deep hole in third quarter, turning the ball
over on three consecutive possessions. First, Cann was intercepted by
Brinkley to set up Wisconsin deep in Herd territory. Wisconsin capitalized
as Hill chalked up his second score of the day.
On his next drive Cann was picked off again, this time by Wisconsin safety
Shane Carter. Once again a turnover quickly resulted in a Badger
touchdown. Evridge hit tight end Garrett Graham for a 26-yard touchdown
strike on the next play.
The third interception came from backup quarterback Brian Anderson whose
pass bounced off Passmore’s hip and was snatched by Brinkley. The Marshall
defense was able to stall out the Wisconsin drive, but on their next
possession the Badgers went 76 yards and John Clay became the third UW
back to rush for a touchdown.
Bradie Ewing tacked on another touchdown for Wisconsin and Clay bulled his
way in for his second score with 4:49 remaining.
Marshall will return to Joan C. Edwards Stadium next week for a 7 p.m.
contest with Conference USA foe Memphis.
