The Wisconsin Badgers are now 2-0 on the season after a strong second half downed the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 42-10 at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Blue Raiders deserve credit for their inspired play in the first half of the game. Despite being 28.5-point underdogs and coming off an embarrassing loss to FCS Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee came out aggressively on offense, primarily through the air, and held a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, including a 117-42 advantage in yards gained.
Wisconsin
appeared to take control of the game in the second quarter after scoring two touchdowns, which gave the Badgers a 14-3 lead. However, an interception by MTSU’s Damonte Smith set up Middle Tennessee’s only touchdown of the day. The Badgers had a slight 14-10 lead as audible boos rained down from Camp Randall Stadium.
The Badgers swung momentum back in the third quarter, as Jeff Grimes’ unit used big plays from Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony II on end-arounds to make it 28-10. As the Badgers’ defense controlled the Middle Tennessee offense, Danny O’Neil delivered two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Jayden Ballard and Lance Mason, extending Wisconsin’s lead.
While the Badgers dominated the second half, their first-half play drew the ire of head coach Luke Fickell. Wisconsin must have a cleaner first half as they take on the No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa next Saturday.
Here are three standouts from Wisconsin’s second win of the season.
Danny O’Neil
The Badgers might have a playmaker at quarterback this year.
O’Neil was stellar in his first career start. Despite having to corral high snaps throughout the game, the sophomore signal caller finished with an efficient 23-of-27 for 283 yards and three touchdown passes.
It was the most passing yards in a Wisconsin quarterback’s debut in program history. The only blemish on his performance was one interception that bounced off the hands of Dilin Jones.
Linebacker duo of Christian Allegrio and Tackett Curtis
I’m going to split the second standout of the game between Allegro and Curtis here, as both linebackers finished with seven total tackles each. Allegro set the tone in the second half with a massive momentum-swinging fourth-down tackle-for-loss. The junior linebacker finished with a game-high six solo tackles.
As the Badgers began to pull away from the Blue Raiders with a 28-10 lead, Middle Tennessee brought in freshman dual-threat quarterback Stanley Anderson-Lofton to spark the offense, but Curtis delivered a seven-yard sack to stall MTSU’s drive near the end of the third quarter.
Lance Mason
Mason led all Badger pass catchers with 102 receiving yards and had a catch of 10+ yards in five of Wisconsin’s six touchdown drives. The Missouri State transfer got the Badgers’ offense rolling with a 34-yard reception into Middle Tennessee’s red zone to set up Wisconsin’s first touchdown.
Mason also caught a 14-yard pass on 3rd-and-1, taking Wisconsin to Middle Tennessee’s 1-yard line, setting up Dilin Jones’ first career rushing touchdown.
As Wisconsin pulled away from Middle Tennessee in the second half, Mason caught his first touchdown pass as a Badger, hauling in a 17-yard pass to make the score 42-10.
