Play of the game
From the Wisconsin side, it has to be the 50-yard completion from redshirt sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook to true freshman wide receiver Danny Davis. After BYU tied the game with a field goal, UW attacked deep with Davis, whose first career reception was a 35-yard pitch-and-catch against FAU last week.
What a throw bye Hornibrook to Danny Davis. Things looking good for Wisconsin. #Badgers pic.twitter.com/SVljobsYEi
— Nolan (@BluffNolanTakes) September 16, 2017
Davis has shown a knack for attacking balls in the air and making big plays, whether drawing penalties or, like on Saturday, catching those passes. This reception flipped the field completely, going from UW’s 25-yard line to the BYU 25. Five plays later, true freshman Jonathan Taylor scored his fifth touchdown of the year from a yard out to give the Badgers a lead they would never relinquish.
Honorable mention: T.J. Edwards’s interception; BYU’s holding penalty on its second offensive drive
Game balls
Quarterback Alex Hornibrook: Because of course. He completed 18 of 19 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns.
Left tackle Michael Deiter: For staying in the game after limping around and waiving off redshirt freshman Cole Van Lanen. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus, Deiter was dealing with a right ankle injury.
Cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams: The redshirt freshman led the team in tackles with eight and recorded his first career interception
Outside linebackers Leon Jacobs and Andrew Van Ginkel: The two combined for 10 tackles (six by Jacobs, four by Van Ginkel), with Van Ginkel recording his second consecutive sack in as many games. Jacobs now is second on the team in tackles (16).
Honorable mention: Quintez Cephus (five receptions, 54 yards, two touchdowns); Jonathan Taylor (18 carries, 128 yards, one touchdown); Danny Davis (two receptions, 67 yards)
Game notes
- Wisconsin is now 11–1 in non-conference games under Paul Chryst. The lone loss was his first game against Alabama at AT&T Stadium.
- Wisconsin now holds a 2–1 all-time series lead against BYU.
- Wisconsin recorded two turnovers against BYU. The Badgers are now +2 for the season and have scored 34 points off of six takeaways through three games.
- Wisconsin held BYU to 192 total yards, the fewest since the Badgers held Rutgers to 165 in October 2015. Prior to that, the Scarlet Knights gained only 139 yards when the Badgers traveled to New Jersey in 2014.
- Wisconsin has now outscored opponents 72–0 in the third and fourth quarters through three games of the 2017 season. Credit Jim Leonhard’s unit for shutting down opposing offenses and making necessary adjustments.
- Taylor is the first freshman Wisconsin back since Corey Clement in 2013 to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games.
- Redshirt freshman Kendric Pryor made his UW debut on Saturday. He was previously out for Utah State and FAU due to facial injuries suffered during a moped accident.