Senior running back Anthony Davis had 122 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Those statistics come as no surprise, but Davis did have a good day considering he was only 80 percent healthy.
Sophomore quarterback John Stocco was 13-of-21 for 178 yards and one touchdown. Those numbers are nothing new when it comes to Stocco, but it is obvious that he becomes more comfortable and has more poise in every game that he plays.
But it has been the play of Wisconsin's wide receivers that has continued to improve over the past three games.
Senior wide receiver Darrin Charles and junior wideout Brandon Williams combined for all but 25 of those yards through the air. Their numbers continue to blossom as Stocco progresses and, while their statistics were down to begin the season, they did not give up.
\The thing I like about those guys is that they're team players,"" Head Coach Barry Alvarez said. ""They don't worry about how many receptions they have. They're always out there blocking and contributing in their way.""
It seems as though the Wisconsin offense is starting to click on all aspects, and with three games remaining in the regular season, it could not have picked a better time.
After accumulating just 150 receiving yards in the first six games, Williams had 154 yards in the last two games combined.
He made a crucial play early in the second quarter. Stocco was hit as he threw, resulting a lame-duck jump ball, which Williams turned into a 25-yard completion.
Williams also showed Saturday that he is capable of doing more than just catching the ball out of his wide receiver position. He had a 25-yard run midway through the second quarter which set up Davis' first touchdown run.
The junior is still looking for his first touchdown of the season, but is now the team's leading receiver with 26 receptions for 304 yards through eight games.
""Hopefully I will score this year. If it doesn't happen, that's all right,"" Williams said.
Charles was in a similar situation prior to Wisconsin's game with Purdue. The senior had a mere 57 yards in the first six Badger victories. In the last two, he has combined for 126 yards, including a team-high 83 yards on four catches against Northwestern.
While four catches do not seem like a lot, three of the four came at critical times in the game.
""I know those guys will make plays for us,"" Stocco said. ""We have a lot of big play receivers. I know all I have to do is throw the ball up and they'll go get it. They continue to make plays for us.""
""Darrin's done a nice job. He's playing as well as he's ever played,"" offensive coordinator Brian White said. ""He's got a great attitude, a great mindset and preparation during the week. He's carrying it to the field and making big plays.""
Charles caught a critical pass on the drive that gave the Badgers the 3-0 lead in the first quarter. On third-and-eight, Charles caught a pass that gained 25 yards and moved the Badgers into Northwestern territory.
Charles had a 33-yard catch early in the third quarter to spark the drive that ended in the Badgers' final touchdown.
He also had an important third-down catch in the Badgers' big fourth-quarter drive when he went for 21 yards on third-and-seven.
While Davis is expected to be back to 100 percent for the game with Minnesota in two weeks, it is important that the passing game continues to evolve.
""I think it's real exciting in the fact that the offense hasn't tapped into our potential on offense,"" Charles said. ""You see a lot of greatness and versatility, but I think late in the Purdue game you saw what we're capable of doing.""
With four legitimate targets at wide receiver-Charles, Williams, and juniors Owen Daniels and Jonathan Orr-opposing defenses cannot just key in on one player, and as long as Stocco continues to make clutch completions, Wisconsin will continue to score when it needs to.
