| |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Ron Dayne's pursuit of Ricky Williams and Archie Griffin continued, as did Wisconsin's humiliation of overmatched opponents. Dayne rushed for 158 yards and one touchdown, wide receiver Nick Davis brought back a kickoff for a score and linebacker Chris Ghidorzi had an interception return for a TD as the eighth-ranked Badgers routed Ball State, 50-10. "I'm really pleased with the win," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said. "I'm happy with the way our special teams played. I thought our guys were much crisper and we made some plays, so that does make me feel better about the game, knowing that our kids came back and played better." Scott Kavanagh threw two touchdown passes and Vitaly Pisetsky booted a pair of field goals for Wisconsin (2-0), which has beaten its first two opponents -- Murray State and Ball State -- by a combined 99-20. The Badgers play another overmatched team, Cincinnati, next weekend before opening the Big Ten Conference schedule against No. 5 Michigan here. Dayne, who carried 31 times, is just 1,423 yards behind Williams as Division I-A's all-time leading rusher, and needs only 206 yards to break Griffin's career Big Ten record. "As I said earlier in the year, I don't worry about the records and awards," Dayne said. "I'm just worrying about winning and doing what it takes to win." Dayne did not play in the second half against Boise State but was around in the third quarter this time to plow his way for a two-yard touchdown with 2:27 remaining into the period that gave Wisconsin a 36-7 lead. "I got into the third quarter and got some more carries," added Dayne. "I felt real good. I wanted to break one but I just kept plugging away and I felt fine with that." Kavanagh, who opened the scoring in the second half with a seven-yard TD toss to fullback Chad Kuhns, hooked up with Lee Evans on a 64-yard score 11 seconds into the fourth quarter. Kavanagh completed half of his 14 pass attempts for 165 yards and was not intercepted. Kevin Jennings scored on a 29-yard run for Ball State with 3:45 left. But perhaps looking ahead to a possible Bowl Championship Series appearance, the Badgers added another score with eight seconds left, when Michael Bennett entered the end zone from two yards out. "I think they are such a complete football team," Ball State coach Bill Lynch said of Wisconsin. "That's why they are a team that's playing for big things. It's the reason why they are the Rose Bowl champions and they have a great chance to do it again." Pisetsky got Wisconson on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter with a 25-yard field goal and the Badgers pushed their lead to 9-0 moments later with a safety. Kevin Jennings bounced the ensuing free kick up the middle and Davis fielded the ball at the Wisconsin 23-yard line. The 5-10 sophomore burst up the middle, raced to the left sidelines and broke a few tackles before going the distance for his fourth career touchdown -- all on returns. He returned two punts for a score last year and one last week. "He's an exciting player and a threat every time he gets the ball in his hands," Alvarez said of Davis. "He really makes our special teams exciting. He's a good, solid receiver and does a heck of a job once he catches the ball." Ghidorzi's 25-yard interception return came early in the second quarter and gave Wisconsin a 19-0 cushion. Ball State fianlly got on the board with 2:15 left in the half, when Brian Conn hit Billy Lynch for a five-yard TD. Conn was 8-of-18 for 94 yards and was intercepted once. "To stay in a game like this, you can't make the mistakes that we made early," Lynch added. "Our defense, I thought, played pretty good in the first half, holding them to field goals. I think they're a great football team and in the second half we just got worn down." Pisetsky's 52-yarder with 34 seconds left in the half gave the Badgers a 22-7 advantage.
|
