(UW ATHLETICS) LINCOLN, Neb. – The Wisconsin football team fell at Nebraska on Saturday, 44-25
The Badgers (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten), winners of 10 consecutive games in the series and four straight at Memorial Stadium before the contest, lost to the Cornhuskers (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) for the first time since 2012.
Nebraska grabbed a quick 7-0 lead, finishing the opening 55-yard drive with a Heinrich Haarberg 5-yard rush for the score 2:53 into the contest.
The Badgers equalized nearly as fast, helped by a 42-yard reception by Vinny Anthony II. The 82-yard drive culminated in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Braedyn Locke to Bryson Green for Green’s first points of the season. It took UW 3:11 to tie the game.
Neither team scored on its next possessions before Wisconsin had a chance to take the lead after Jake Chaney forced a fumble on the Nebraska 17-yard line that Ben Barten recovered. Nathanial Vakos missed a 34-yard field goal attempt, however, and the Cornhuskers regained the lead on an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a Donte Dowdell 12-yard run 42 seconds into the second quarter.
A Vakos 33-yard field goal brought UW to within 14-10, but a second failed field goal attempt in the first half, this time from 41 yards, led to more points by Nebraska.
The Cornhuskers drove 76 yards on the ensuing drive for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the half.
UW then fumbled on a rush before the end of the half and the Cornhuskers took advantage with a 37-yard field goal for 10 points in 15 seconds to close out the half with a 24-10 lead.
Nebraska continued its scoring run with the first 10 points of the second half before Bryson Green brought down a 24-yard touchdown catch that finished off a four-play, 79-yard drive in the third quarter to make it 34-17.
A Nebraska field goal preceded a 58-yard touchdown strike from UW’s Locke to Anthony II for the wide receiver’s third touchdown of over 50 yards and sixth catch over 40 yards this season. The score made it 37-25.
That was as close as the Badgers would get, with Nebraska tacking on a touchdown with 3:11 left in the game to make it 44-25.
Junior wide receiver Anthony II led the UW offense with 137 yards in his first career 100-yard performance on a career-high-matching seven catches.
Locke tossed three touchdown passes and went 20-for-30 for 292 yards with one interception.
Dupree led UW with 63 yards rushing. Green caught a pair of touchdowns.
Linebacker Christian Alliegro made 11 tackles and safety Auston Brown made 10 stops on defense.
Up Next: UW welcomes Minnesota to Camp Randall Stadium and looks to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe to close out the regular season on Friday at 11 a.m CT. Wisconsin leads the series 63-62-8.
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