It was not the start Paul Chryst was looking for his team as the Badgers went into the half tied 17-17 with the Maryland Terrapins in College Park on Saturday. The team had only 94 total yards in the half, Joel Stave had thrown for 20 yards and an interception, and the only two positives came on two special teams plays. The first, a 98-yard kick return touchdown by Natrell Jamerson, evened the game 7-7.
The second big special teams play came on a fake punt on 4th and 1 in the Badgers’ own territory. Joe Schobert, the former high school running back, took the direct snap and rumbled for 57 yards.
Stave came back strong in the second half, however, throwing for 168 yards in the half on 14/19 passing and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dare Ogunbowale. He looked much more poised in the second half, especially since the offensive line finally started to block for him. Alex Erickson led the receiving core with 83 yards on five catches.
“Joel is resilient. He has enough confidence in himself that he’ll find a way.” – Paul Chryst on Stave after the game.
Without Corey Clement, the running game did next to nothing all day. Schobert was the lead rusher on that 57-yard run, while Ogunbowale only ran for 47 yards on 19 carries, but did score on the next play after Schobert’s big run and the Stave 5-yard pass. Taiwan Deal returned as well, running for 42 yards on nine carries, and encouraging return for the power back. Alec Ingold scored a touchdown as well from the Maryland 1, as he continues to channel his inner John Kuhn.
Per usual, the defense came up huge in the second half, only giving up one touchdown toward the end of the game when it really did not matter. Tanner McEvoy had two interceptions, but Jack Cichy was the real star. The walk-on sophomore led the Badgers today, recording two sacks and three tackles for loss while managing 10 total tackles. He excelled for a second straight week after taking over for the injured Chris Orr.
The Badgers will get a much needed bye week before facing Northwestern at home on November 21.