Wisconsin Badgers vs UNLV Runnin' Rebels Match Player Stats On Sep 04, 2010

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 5, 2010
Opportunistic UNLV put an early scare into 12th-ranked Wisconsin, but the Badgers usedtheir powerful running attack to beat the Rebels 41-21 Saturday in Las Vegas.

Wisconsin gained 278 yards on the ground, including 123 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries from John Clay to wear down UNLV, which kept the game close until halftime. Montee Ball added 79 yards and two touchdowns for the Badgers, who finished with 475 total yards. Wisconsin scored 24 points in the third quarter to put the game away after UNLV had pulled to within 17-14 by halftime.

Badger quarterback Scott Tolzien completed 15 of 20 passes for 197 yards, but threw a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter.

UNLV, which managed only 11 total yards in the first half, stayed in the game early, thanks to two big defensive returns by Will Chandler. Chandler returned an interceptions 11 yards for a TD, then picked up a Nick Toon fumble at the Rebels’ 2 and returned it 82 yards to the Wisconsin 16 with 1:08 left in the half. Mike Clausen hit Phillip Payne on a 16-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

But Wisconsin took charge in the third, increasing its lead to 41-14 on Aaron Henry’s 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown, as well as scoring runs of 18 yards by Clay, 16 by Ball and a 33-yard field goal from Philip Welch.

The Rebels, who will play nine bowl teams from last season this year, moved the ball better after that, with quarterback Omar Clayton replacing Clausen and leading an 80-yard touchdown drive. Clayton hit Irshad Stolen for a 9-yard touchdown early in the fourth to close the scoring. The Rebels finished with 215 total yards.

Wisconsin, which is 7-2 against UNLV, is now 94-25-3 in season openers and has won 13 straight games on opening day.