(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON -The Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) earned a 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan (1-3) on Saturday inside Camp Randall Stadium. An explosive first half on offense and a trio of forced turnovers fueled Wisconsin. The Badgers held a 31-7 halftime lead with QB Colton Joseph tallying a program-record 302 first-half passing yards. WR Tyrell Henry hauled in a school-record 14 receptions for 160 yards in the game.
With the win, Wisconsin has outscored opponents at home, 90-19, through two games at Camp Randall this season.
Wisconsin opened the game with a 42-yard drive that ended on the Eagles’ 33-yard line after a failed fourth-down conversion. Eastern Michigan took its only lead of the game on an 18-yard passing touchdown. The Badgers’ second drive was cut short as the Eagles picked off Colton Joseph on second down. Wisconsin’s defense found its footing and forced a four-and-out on EMU’s ensuing drive.
A 27-yard pass to TE Jacob Harris highlighted Wisconsin’s scoring drive at the end of the first quarter. The drive culminated in a Gavin Lahm 39-yard field goal to put the Badgers on the board.
Wisconsin marched down the field on its first drive in the second quarter, capping-off a 74-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown rush from Joseph. The score gave the Badgers a 10-7 lead and marked Joseph’s first rushing touchdown of the season.
After forcing the Eagles to punt for the third-straight drive, the Badgers’ explosive offense returned. Joseph found WR Chris Brooks Jr. wide open in the middle of the field for a 75-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 17-7.
LB Mason Posa grabbed his first career interception, and the Badgers’ first takeaway of the season, late in the second quarter. On the following play, Joseph found Harris for his third reception over 25 yards on the day. RB Darrion Dupree wasted no time reaching the end zone on the second play of the drive, rushing 10 yards up the middle for the score.
With the rain pouring down at Camp Randall, S Matt Jung came away with Wisconsin’s second interception of the game. Four plays later, the Badgers found the end zone for the fourth time in the first half, increasing their lead to 31-7. Joseph connected with WR Tyrell Henry for a 13-yard touchdown, Henry’s ninth reception of the game.
The Badgers picked up where they left off on defense, as OLB Sebastian Cheeks sacked EMU’s Noah Kim and forced a fumble on the opening drive of the second half. LB Cooper Catalano scooped the ball and returned it 10 yards for the touchdown, Catalano’s first of his career, to extend the lead to 38-7.
Lahm capped Wisconsin’s first offensive drive of the half with a 41-yard field goal to make the score 41-7. The Eagles kicked a 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to score for the first time since their opening drive.
Wisconsin scored again late in the fourth quarter to make the score 48-10. Joseph found TE Emmett Bork for a 4-yard touchdown, securing Bork the first catch and score of his career.
Eric Fletcher, Jr., blocked Eastern Michigan’s field goal attempt and Donovan Dunmore returned it 55 yards for the score on the game’s final play to make it 54-10.
Joseph’s school-record 302 passing yards in the first half were a part of his historic 408 total yard performance. The senior tallied four total touchdowns, including his first rushing score of the season. Henry was the Badgers’ leading receiver, making a program-best 14 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown. Harris’ 89 receiving yards marked a career-high. The tight end averaged 29.7 yards on three receptions.
On the defensive side, Jung put his name all over the stat sheet; tallying an interception, pass break-up and a quarterback hurry, while making three tackles. Catalano made four tackles and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. Lahm was perfect, going 6-for-6 on extra points, with two field goals on the day.
Up Next: UW hits the road for its Big Ten opener next Saturday, taking on No. 14 Penn State. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT on Peacock. The Badgers return to Camp Randall on Saturday, Oct. 3 to host the Michigan State Spartans for Homecoming.
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