MADISON – With their starting quarterback missing the final 2 ½ quarters, the Wisconsin football team scuffled for a 17-0 victory over Miami (Ohio) under the lights at Camp Randall Stadium Aug. 28.
Billy Edwards, the Badgers’ starting quarterback coming out of fall camp, suffered a non-contact lower body injury in the second quarter that ended his day.
That opened the door for sophomore Danny O’Neil, who despite some shaky moments led the Badgers on two second half scoring drives that allowed the team to snap a five-game losing streak that started in the middle of last season.
BOX SCORE: Wisconsin 17, Miami (Ohio) 0
O’Neil, a sophomore transfer from San Diego State, completed 12 of 19 pases for 120 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Badgers finished the night with 353 total yards, while the defense notched a shutout. UW held the RedHawks to 117 yards and limited them to about 21 minutes in time of possession.
Wisconsin also forced two turnovers thanks to two interceptions by senior safety Preston Zachman. The first of those picks set up a first-and-goal situation at the 3 that led to the game-sealing score, a quarterback sneak from O’Neil with 6 minutes 45 seconds to play.
Here are four instant takeaways from the game.
Mason Reiger leads the defense
Wisconsin didn’t cover the spread – it was 18 ½ points at kickoff – but the defense did its job.
Miami had just one explosive play – a gain of 20 yards or more. The RedHawks longest drive lasted 7 plays. Its longest drive by yards was 42.
The Badgers are emphasizing getting more tackles for loss and turnovers. UW got its two turnovers in the fourth quarter and netted four tackles for a loss that included three sacks.
Reiger, a transfer from Louisville, had four tackles and two quarterback hurries. He also drew a holding penalty that brought back a Miami first down in the fourth quarter and set the stage for Zachman’s first pick, which led to Wisconsin’s final touchdown.
Danny O’Neil was just effective enough
O’Neil’s play won’t make UW fans rest easy if Edwards can’t go next week, but the 6-0, 197-pounder from Indiana showed a glimpse or two of what made him a season-long starter at San Diego State.
He is more mobile than Edwards, elusiveness that helped the Badgers move the chains a couple of times. He also has a short memory as he bounced back from throwing an interception in the end zone during the third quarter to lead UW on a seven-play, 54-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard pass to Vinny Anthony.
O’Neil went 2 for 4 for 33 yards on the drive and ran for a 17-yard gain on third and 9. His best pass of the day, a 22-yard strike to tight end Grant Stec, set the Badgers up with first and goal.
Solid debut for running back Dilin Jones
Jones carried the ball 16 times last season. He got 14 carries for 73 yards Thursday night. Three of his runs resulted in first downs, including a 9-yard gain on third-and-2 on the first possession of the second half.
The Badgers finished the night with 165 rushing yards in 43 carries, an average of 3.8 yards per rush.
All three of UW’s top backs saw significant action even if it didn’t always result in carries. Sophomore Darrion Dupree ran for eight times for 41 yards and redshirt junior Cade Yacamelli ran five times for 20 yards.
Offense spreads ball around with Edwards under center
We got only about a quarter and a half with Edwards running the show, but during that time the Badgers made use of a lot of weapons.
If that is symbolic of what we’ll see in the future from the offense then that should bode well for the Badgers attack.
Jones had a team-high six rushes before the injury, but Dupree, Yacamelli, Trech Kekahuna and Jackson Acker had carries.
In the passing game, Jayden Ballard had two catches, while Kekahuna, Jones, Chris Brooks and Vinny Anthony caught one pass. Tight end Lance Mason and Joseph Griffin were intended targets.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin 17, Miami (Ohio) 0: Badgers persevere after losing starting quarterback Billy Edwards to injury
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
