Field Level Media
Oct 5, 2019
Junior running back Jonathan Taylor scored a career-high five touchdowns and rushed for 186 yards as No. 8 Wisconsin pounded Kent State 48-0 in a nonconference game Saturday in Madison, Wis.
Taylor rushed for a 6-yard touchdown on Wisconsin's first series to give the Badgers a 7-0 lead at Camp Randall Stadium. The 2018 All-American has scored touchdowns during the Badgers' first series in each game during Wisconsin's 5-0 start.
Taylor, a Heisman Trophy hopeful, rushed for four touchdowns on 19 carries. He also caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown against Kent State (2-3).
Taylor surpassed the 100-yard rushing milestone for a fifth straight game and the 27th time in 32 career games. He has 16 touchdowns in 2019 and moved into third in school history with 4,916 career rushing yards, surpassing Melvin Gordon (4,915). Taylor ranks behind Montee Ball (5,140) and Ron Dayne (7,125).
Taylor hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jack Coan to increase Wisconsin's lead to 28-0 with 1:23 to go in the first half.
Coan completed 12 of 15 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Graham Mertz replaced Coan with less than six minutes left in the third and completed all five of his passes.
Senior outside linebacker Zack Baun was a standout on defense for Wisconsin, collecting three sacks -- all in the first half. The Badgers collected eight sacks, including two from linebacker Chris Orr.
Kent State junior quarterback Dustin Crum completed 6 of 8 passes for 25 yards and was replaced late in the third quarter by junior Woody Barrett.
The Badgers held the Golden Flashes to 124 yards, including 60 rushing yards.
Kent State sophomore kicker Matthew Trickett missed a 52-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter, as the ball hit the center of the crossbar and bounced out. Wisconsin preserved its third shutout of the season when it recovered a fumble from Barrett after Kent State reached the Badgers' 20 early in the fourth quarter.
Wisconsin and Kent State were meeting for the first time. Golden Flashes coach Sean Lewis played tight end and quarterback at Wisconsin from 2004-07.
--Field Level Media