Akron Zips vs Wisconsin Badgers Match Player Stats On Sep 10, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 10, 2016

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin found success in the air and on the ground on Saturday, but lost a critical player on offense in its home opener.

Wide receiver Jazz Peavy caught two touchdown passes and running back Corey Clement rushed for two scores to lead Wisconsin to a 54-10 victory against Akron at Camp Randall Stadium.

Clement, who had 21 carries and 111 yards in the first half, suffered a left leg injury and didn't play in the second half for the Badgers (2-0). Clement is 84 yards shy of the 2,000-yard career rushing mark.

The Badgers also got important first-half efforts on defense against the Zips (1-1). Senior defensive end Alec James sacked quarterback Thomas Woodson in the end zone for a safety late in the first quarter. Senior safety Leo Musso leapt high to snatch an interception on Akron's 9-yard line in the second.

The Zips finally got on the board late in the first half when senior wide receiver JoJo Natson ran 55 yards for a score on a punt return with 3:12 to go in the second.

Aside from Natson's 44-yard receiving effort which led to Akron's only touchdown, another bright spot in the game for the Zips (1-1) was sophomore kicker Tom O'Leary, who booted a 32-yard field goal.

Quarterback Bart Houston was sharp under center for the Badgers. Houston, a senior and first-year starter, completed 15 of 22 passes for 231 yards, two touchdown passes and one interception. Peavy was on the receiving end of a 34-yard pass from Houston that extended the Badgers' lead to 30-7 with 2:12 left in the second quarter.

Peavy, a junior, finished with seven catches for 100 yards and two scores and senior wide receiver Robert Wheelwright had four receptions for 99 yards.

Woodson completed 9 of 19 passes for 108 yards and one interception for Akron, as the Badgers' defense only allowed 224 total yards of offense.

NOTES: Wisconsin posted its 21st consecutive win in a home opener. The Badgers won their home opener each season since a 43-7 loss to Colorado in 1995. ... Sophomore LB T.J. Edwards, a starter last season who led the Badgers with 84 tackles, returned to the lineup - at inside linebacker - after sitting out of camp with a broken left foot. Edwards suffered the injury during summer workouts. ... Wisconsin snapped Akron's seven-game winning streak, which dated to last season. ... Attendance for the Badgers' 2016 home opener was 77,331.