With last year's loss to UNLV still fresh in the memory of Badger players and fans, UW's defense made sure history did not repeat itself. Wisconsin defeated UNLV 18-3 on a hot Saturday afternoon in front of 82,071 fans.
The defense made its second solid performance of the year, while the offense showed signs of weakness as it continues to cope with the loss of starting senior tailback Anthony Davis.
Defensive coordinator Bret Bielema's unit wreaked havoc on UNLV's offense throughout the game and, with the help of special teams, accounted for 11 of the Badgers' 18 total points.
\We raised hell in the locker room about what needs to take place, because nobody is going to line up and run the football against us and that's what happened,"" Bielema said. ""We came out and challenged them and they never really came back.""
The No. 21 Badgers dominated play from the start as they held the Rebels to one offensive yard in the first quarter. However, the same could not be said of the other side of the ball as two trips to the red zone failed to produce any points for UW.
""Obviously, we didn't have a great day on offense. Special teams made points for us ... gave us great field position all day, played with a lot of confidence,"" Head Coach Barry Alvarez said.
His team improved to 2-0 for the third consecutive season and the sixth time in the last seven.
""Defensively, I don't know how much more you can ask for,"" Alvarez said. ""They really prepared well, moved around to the ball and anticipated very well.""
Special teams may have played the biggest factor in the game as late in the first half, sophomore linebacker Reggie Cribbs blocked a 30-yard field-goal attempt by freshman kicker Sergio Aguayo.
Cribbs, who was lined up in the middle of the field goal formation, was able to get his hand on the ball. The ball landed outside the hash marks and was scooped up by senior safety Jim Leonhard who sprinted 86 yards untouched, helping UW take a 9-0 lead with two minutes, 20 seconds left in the half.
""That's a 10-point swing,"" Alvarez said. ""That was a big play, a huge play, the biggest play of the game.""
Later in the game, it was the defense again putting points on the board when sophomore linebacker Mark Zalewski added a safety to give UW an 11-0 lead in the third quarter when he sacked backup quarterback Shane Steichen in the end zone.
""That is why we won this game,"" Leonhard said. ""Defense and special teams.""
However, on the Badgers' ensuing possession, sophomore quarterback John Stocco threw his lone interception. That, coupled with a roughing-the-passer penalty against senior defensive lineman Jason Jefferson, led to a UNLV 48-yard drive that concluded with a field goal.
That was the first and last time UNLV could muster any offensive rhythm as it was held to 174 total yards and 11 first downs.
The telling statistic of the game came in third-down conversions, as the Badgers made stops on 12 of 13 chances.
""I believe they've got three guys on their unit who could start for anybody in the country,"" Bielema said. ""We took a lot of pride in shutting down that offense and showing we have a good group here as well.""
With the Rebels still within striking distance, the offense put the game out of reach as it stormed 91 yards in 16 plays while consuming 7:15 of the clock to put six points on the board.
Inconsistency plagued sophomore running back Booker Stanley, as he rushed five times for 34 yards on the drive. It was freshman running back Jamil Walker who made the most of his opportunities. The true freshman rushed for 88 yards on 16 carries and provided the Badgers with a break-away threat in the backfield.
""Jamil gives us an answer back there to get some speed that we miss with Anthony,"" Alvarez said. ""And we're going to see how he can progress from week to week.""
The drive concluded when Stocco found senior wideout Darrin Charles near the left corner of the end zone with 12:19 left. Charles used a 6-inch height advantage over cornerback Ruschard Dodd-Masters to make an acrobatic touchdown catch.
""We had been driving the ball up and down the field and hadn't punched it in all damn game,"" Charles said. ""Somebody needed to make a play and I'm always ready to make a play.""
""I thought he made a great play on the ball,"" Alvarez said. ""Early on in his career his hands weren't strong enough to make that play. Now he can, and that should be a play we can really go to.""
There are still areas of concern for the Badgers as they prepare to travel to Arizona for a date with the Wildcats next week. Senior kicker Mike Allen missed field-goal attempts of 23 and 49 yards, and the offense had the ball in UNLV territory nine times and scored just once, while compiling only 276 total yards.
And with Anthony Davis sidelined for at least another two weeks, the running-back-by-committee theme will proceed, as no one single player can fill the shoes of the senior back.
""I'm thankful for every win that we get,"" Alvarez said. ""Every game is hard. I don't take anybody for granted. That was a hard-fought game today, and I feel fortunate that we walked out of their with a win.""
